Governor to attend new School of Business building groundbreaking ceremony

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Business is celebrating the start of construction of its new $65 million building with a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will speak at the event, along with KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and School of Business Dean Neeli Bendapudi. Kurt Watson, chair of KU Endowment’s capital campaign, Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, will emcee the ceremony.

The building — which is currently planned to be a six-story, 166,000-square-foot structure — will be located on the east side of Naismith Drive, across from Allen Fieldhouse at the south entrance of campus.

The groundbreaking will take place on the tennis courts on Naismith Drive, adjacent to Robinson Center. The governor, chancellor, dean and major donors will celebrate the beginning of construction. A reception will follow on the tennis courts.

The event is open to public. Guests are asked to RSVP by email.

Parking: Guests are encouraged to park in lot 90, just south of the tennis courts and west of the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center.

Information for media: A mult box will be provided, along with risers for TV cameras. Media are asked to RSVP with Austin Falley by email.