University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 5, No. 4/1996 Business college crosses the street with new hall Construction has begun on MBNA America Hall, the new building for the College of Business and Economics, located on Orchard Road across from Purnell Hall-the college's current home. Expected to be completed by fall 1997, the new building will feature office suites for the college's service-oriented centers, including the Small Business Development Center and the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. In addition to its centerpiece-a three-story, glass-walled atrium with skylights-the building also will include formal conference rooms, administrative and faculty offices, four case-study classrooms and a second-story connecting bridge to Purnell Hall. The refurbishing of Purnell Hall also is under way and will be completed with the opening of the new building. State funding for MBNA America Hall totals $11 million. The balance of the $15 million construction cost was provided by private gifts, among them $2.5 million from MBNA America and $1 million from benefactor Chaplin Tyler of Hockessin. Other significant contributions to the Business and Economics building fund include $150,000 from J.P. Morgan & Co., $100,000 from Wilmington Trust Co. and $50,000 from PNC Bank.