YSU means business with $34M facility

Williamson School of Business

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By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

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The new Williamson College of Business Administration will provide a professional business education environment, a resource for the regional business community and a link between YSU and the city’s downtown.

Betty Jo Licata, dean of the WCBA at Youngstown State University, led a tour of the $34.3 million facility Tuesday for media representatives. A ribbon-cutting for the building is set for 4 p.m. Sunday.

In developing the new business school, YSU had a number of goals in mind.

“The first was for the building to provide a professional business education environment that’s more like a corporate training setting than a traditional classroom,” Licata said.

Providing resources for the regional business community — a 200-seat auditorium and a regional conference center — was another aim, she said.

The building, which sits on Rayen Avenue at Phelps Street, also links the campus with the downtown community, the dean said.

Strollo Architects of Youngstown and Perkins and Will of Minneapolis were the project architects, and Marous Brothers Construction of Willoughby, Ohio, was the general contractor.

“There are wonderful design elements in the building,” Licata said. “The sight lines are incredible.”

Rodney J. Lamberson, vice president/principal at Strollo, said the urban design elements are a highlight of the new building, connecting YSU and downtown.

“That was an important part of our plan,” Lamberson said.

The relationship of the building to the rest of the city also is important.

The three-story building features an atrium and window-lined classrooms, offices and corridors. The building is completely wireless.

The atrium will be a gathering space for students, and a large screen on the wall will show the markets from the Financial News Network, CNN and other networks. It also may be used for PowerPoint presentations.

Planning for the new building began several years ago with the university’s trustees approving it five years ago.

Construction was made possible due, in part, to contributions.

The family of the late Warren P. Williamson Jr., founder of WKBN radio and television, contributed $5 million toward the new building for the college.

Tony and Mary Lariccia of Boardman, longtime supporters of YSU, donated $4 million for the project. YSU renamed its department of accounting and finance the Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance.

The old Williamson business building will be called the Lincoln Building and will house the math department.

“Our goal was to allow students to get their business education in a professional business environment,” Licata said.

The university has heard from business professionals that they need students with communication and leadership skills, she said.

“Our mission is to prepare students to be leaders,” Licata said.