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Harry and Ann Cornell Hall will be located south of the Reynolds Alumni and Visitor Center on the MU campus. The neo-Georgian appearance of the building will complement the alumni center and Hulston Hall on the South Quadrangle and nearby Jesse Hall. The landscape space between Cornell Hall and the alumni center allows for future expansion and the potential linkage of both buildings. The site slopes nearly a full story from north to south, resulting in both the first and second floors having grade access. The main entrance will be on the northeast, facing the South Quadrangle. The building will have a secondary entrance at the corner of Rollins Street and Maryland Avenue.
Cornell Hall will include 17 classrooms, two computer labs, a 500-seat auditorium, a 125-seat lecture hall, and 15 small breakout rooms as well as offices for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, academic and support units, and research and service agencies. It will feature state-of-the-art technologies, including network and database accessibility in all areas as well as two-way interactive video capabilities. Flexible teaching spaces, including classrooms and breakout rooms that facilitate class interaction, teamwork, research, and small-group activities, will be emphasized throughout the building. Cornell Hall will contain approximately 150,000 square feet, including a central interior, naturally lit atrium. The design also provides plaza space for outdoor activities at the auditorium entrance and at the main entrance.
The estimated cost to construct and equip Cornell Hall is $28,050,000. Funding is coming from three sources: $17,127,000 from the State of Missouri, $745,000 from MU, and $10,178,000 from private supporters of the college. In addition, the college intends to raise another $1 million from private sources to create an endowment for the building, with the annual proceeds used to assure that it is maintained and refurbished as necessary.
Cornell Hall will be named for Harry M. Cornell, Jr., and his spouse Ann. Mr. Cornell is chairman of the board of Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, a Fortune 500 company head quartered in Carthage, Missouri. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from MU in 1950, and became president and CEO of Leggett & Platt in 1960. Ann Cornell is involved in interior design and decorating. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell, in conjunction with Leggett & Platt, made a $3 million gift to the college during its Excellence through Change capital campaign.
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