Raymond Harbert, the namesake of Auburn’s College of Business, announced Thursday, Sept. 12 that the new graduate business building will be named Horton-Hardgrave Hall.
The building is named after former College of Business deans George Horton and Bill Hardgrave.
Hardgrave currently serves as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
“It is exciting, and very gratifying, to view these two men as bridge-builders for Auburn University,” Harbert said.
Annette Ranft, dean of the College of Business, said the new building will serve as a hub for higher education and will allow both undergraduate and graduate students to pursue their endeavors.
“This new building facilitates our ability to address these needs — to develop ready and career-minded graduates, and it provides a space to bring business back to Auburn, to bring alumni back to Auburn,” she said.
SGA President Mary Margaret Turton said the ribbon-cutting ceremony signified more than just the opening of a new facility.
“This building is not just brick and mortar,” she said. “This is where we will develop our leadership and critical-thinking skills, embrace the importance of teamwork and collaboration and experience the value of developing a global, cultural fluency.”
Ranft agreed, saying the dedication of the building underscores the values of the College of Business.
She said the ribbon cutting was a momentous occasion not only because of the new buidling, but because it was a reflection of what Auburn is and what we do in the classroom.
She added that the facility highlights the College’s growth over the last several years.
“This beautiful facility marks a significant milestone in the history of our college,” she said. “We are now beginning to realize the vision of having an elite College of Business housed in a world-class business complex.”
She also took a moment to thank those who played a part in making the building a reality, including alumni and donors.
“The national reputation we are working to build by producing highly desired graduates and by generating knowledge that drives diverse business thought and sustainable practice is possible because of the support of all of you,” Ranft said.
University President Jay Gogue also took a moment to thank all who were involved, and encouraged students to take advantage of everything the building has to offer.
“Your hopes and dreams are possible,” he said. “This is a great facility.”
Jimmy Sanford, speaking on behalf of the board of trustees, said he felt honored to be present to dedicate the new facility, which the University broke ground on about five years ago.
“We accept the trusteeship of this building, and we accept the trusteeship of the intangible and more important asset of the Auburn spirit,” he said. “The spirit inspired the innumerable choices that were made to make this a reality today.”
Turton expressed her gratitude to the University for providing top-tier resources for both her and her peers to achieve greatness after graduation.
“You believe in us, and that makes a difference in our Auburn experience and our next steps after college,” she said. “You believe that we can change the world, so you step up and you invest in our hopes and dreams.”
Horton-Hardgrave Hall is equipped with an event space and theatre, innovation lab and rooftop terrace, among other features.
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