This past Friday the Elon community gathered in McEwen Communications Building's Studio B to dedicate the site of the expanded School of Communications. Donors who supported the construction project were recognized and those that that were in attendance were invited to sign a steel beam which will be incorporated into the new building.
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One of the main donors, the Schar family, donated $12 million towards the construction of the new School of Communications. Mrs. Schar voiced her support of Elon and president Lambert in this initiative.
"We really believe in the School of Communications, but Elon has been great for both of our boys and we believe Elon and president Lambert are really doing things right and we just want to be supportive of his efforts," she said.
Construction of the new two-story, 45,000 square foot extension is already underway and is expected to be in full use for the Fall of 2016. Plans include a large innovation lab, more editing suites, and four additional media labs as well as 29 faculty offices and brand new theatre. A 4,800-square-foot pavilion will also be in front of Whitley Auditorium and between Long and the new School of Communications and will be the home of the Imagining the Internet Center, along with a media analytics lab, additional faculty offices and a student and faculty research area.