The University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 today announced that the newly expanded and renovated building for CU-麻豆影院's school of business will bear the name of the Koelbel family, leaders in Colorado real estate development, construction and sales, in recognition of their long-time support of CU and the business school.
The building will be known as Koelbel Hall and will honor Walter and Gene Koelbel for their many years of service, as well as their family, including their son, Walter A. "Buz" Koelbel, Jr., and his wife, Sherri.
The senior Koelbel is founder of Koelbel and Co., and Buz Koelbel has served as its president for the last 20 years. Koelbel Hall will house the Leeds School of Business classrooms, research facilities and faculty and staff offices and is in the midst of a $38-million expansion and renovation. The Koelbel family has committed $4 million to construction of the building.
"It is fitting that our outstanding school of business will be housed in a building honoring the Koelbel family whose name has been associated with the highest standards of quality in a wide variety of real estate projects," said CU-麻豆影院 Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson. "The support of the Koelbel family been critical to the development of the University of Colorado and the school of business and has included financial support as well as their time and invaluable counsel."
Dennis A. Ahlburg, dean of CU's Leeds School of Business, said, "We want to thank the Koelbels for their very generous gift, which will help us build a facility where we can continue to offer outstanding education programs and cutting edge research that benefits our students, the state of Colorado and the country. We are grateful beneficiaries of the outstanding support Walt and Buz Koelbel and their families have provided for CU and the business school."
"Education is critical to the future of this country, and the University of Colorado is critical to this state," said Buz Koelbel. "Having a first-class facility for the business school is important to the university, and that is why we are making this significant gift."
Walt Koelbel's 60 years of service and dedication supporting CU has included work on projects such as the renovation of Macky Auditorium in 1986 and the original construction of the business school building, for which he chaired the fundraising committee. His knowledge and leadership as a member and president of The University Improvement Corporation (TUIC) and his role establishing and nurturing the CU Real Estate Foundation have greatly benefited CU and the business school. Both Walt and Buz Koelbel are founding members of the CU Real Estate Council.
The Koelbel family gift marks the third major gift announced by the University of Colorado and CU Foundation in recent months.
"The gift from the Koelbel family coming after major gifts from the Anschutz Foundation and ALSAM Foundation demonstrate what truly loyal supporters the University of Colorado has among its alumni and friends," said CU President Hank Brown. "We are extremely grateful for the generous support and wise counsel we have received from the Koelbel family."
The business school's $38 million project will renovate the existing 100,000-square-foot building and integrate this space with a 65,000-square-foot, four-story addition. The 1970 building was designed for a capacity of 1,500 students, and the Leeds School has a current enrollment of 3,600. In addition to the Koelbel gift, at a Thursday luncheon, the CU Real Estate Foundation received a $1 million donation for the naming of the atrium in the Koelbel building.