Northwestern University today announced the selection of an architect for a new building for the Kellogg School of Management.
Kellogg’s new headquarters on the Evanston lakefront will be designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects.
The design process will begin immediately for the building which is meant to provide a dynamic, state-of-the-art presence for Kellogg on the Evanston campus.
The new building will be located adjacent to Kellogg’s Allen Center, which is used for executive education and executive MBA classes. It will include classrooms, community gathering spaces, flexible learning environments, and faculty and administrative offices.
“KPMB was the unanimous choice for this project,” said Kellogg Dean Sally Blount. “I’m confident the firm will help us build a one-of-a-kind global hub that transforms our community and represents the power of the Kellogg brand in the 21st century.”
The selection of Toronto-based KPMB is the culmination of a six-month-long architect competition, which evaluated the proposals of nearly 20 firms. The pool was ultimately narrowed down to five finalist firms. “In the end, KPMB was chosen due to its creativity, track record and innovative approach,” said Gordon Segal, who chairs the Northwestern University Board of Trustees’ Educational Properties Committee.
Added Northwestern President Morton Schapiro: “The Kellogg building will no doubt be another gem on the Northwestern University campus — a destination for business and civic leaders from around the world.”
In a joint statement, firm partners Bruce Kuwabara and Marianne McKenna said, “KPMB is honored to be part of the Northwestern University and Kellogg School of Management team to create a unique design that responds to the extraordinary lakefront site and embodies the future of Kellogg: fluid, connected, collaborative, edgy, welcoming, flexible and global.”
Way past time for NU to build a parking structure
NU plans yet another building for the business school, which no doubt will bring more students to its campus, and more revenue to its treasury. Being a successful business school, they're good at raking in the cash.
However, they're not so good at the social responsibility. More students for NU means more parking will be needed, and close to the lakefront, since those paying five-figure tuition don't take kindly to being told they can park by Dyche stadium and ride the bus.
Kellogg's new building will once again take away parking space from the campus, and add traffic. It's way past time that the city require NU to build another parking structure, as it would require of any other enterprise putting up a big new building.
How is this a matter of ‘social responsibility’?
First, don't assume that building a new facility will mean more students. But even if it does bring in a few more, why assume that this will create a parking crisis? There are dozens of parking spaces available on campus at any time of the day. There is no need for a parking structure at this time. Building a new structure (which has been considered for years) is a very costly proposition and would likely raise the cost of an annual permit substantially. This in turn might convince some people not to pay the $600 per year that campus parking will cost and instead try to find street parking. Be careful what you wish for.
the NIMBY trifecta
Parking, traffic, and Northwestern.
Note also the 'Dyche stadium' reference. Are you also boycotting Macy's?
Enrollment in the school
Enrollment in the school's programs won't increase. The current facilities are outdated.
B-school applications drop
Crain's Chicago Business reports a decline in applications to three of four Chicago-area business schools, including Kellogg.
MBA not such a good choice
More and more companies would rather hire a BA than spend the extra money for a MBA. Also, companies are starting to figure out that these MBA schools don't teach two essential qualities needed for a successful company and that is how to sell and innovate. Better to get an engineer for innovation and a good salesman has always been hard to find. Look at Steve jobs, he had it both and that is why Apple was so successful. Apple has very few MBAs and would rather spend money on an innovator.
MBA and Hubris
I can't stop thinking that the new building is an example of Kellogg's hubris. It has only been 15(?) since they bought out the Education department and then built a new wing. Will they keep getting the students willing to pay gobs of money and take two years out of working or will business start looking for better sources of talent—and at a lot fewer $$$ ! Universities, like NU, may face the same questions. The government keeps increasing the aid and so schools can keep increasing tuition [government will pay for it] and building new academic and social buildings and programs. People may start looking for a good education outside, at least, the most expensive schools.
As the Wall Street Journal Oct. 6 pointed out firms are now looking more at BA/BS and candidates they can teach and mold without paying the extreme salaries MBAs ask for. I worked for a major bank's derivatives branch and we gave up job searches at Kellogg because the students expected the moon [far beyond their ability or value] and acted like they would being doing us a favor by them working for us. Instead we interviewed U.Chicago, MIT MBAs and hired people economics, math, physics, engineering, finance [MA not MBA], MA/MS, PhD—-people not so 'full of themselves.'
Whether MBA, BA/BS, MA/MS or PhD, that is only the 'foundation'—I'd rather hire a BA/BS who knew they had to keep learning and keeping up with their field than an MBA/PhD who thought they learned it all already and only had to coast to retirement. The advanced degrees are fine and great but only if the person knows that is the start. As once was said "the PhD now allows you to start on real research, get access to materials/people you need to accomplish something.'