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.