The Battalion: Shell foundation donates money to build University lecture hall
By Kirk Ehlig
Published: Monday, July 26, 2004
Shell Oil Company Foundation is donating $150,000 to the new $38 million Jack E. Brown building located at the corner of Spence Street and University Drive, near Zachry.
This $150,000 is going to fund a 50-seat lecture hall within the 205,000-square-foot Jack E. Brown building.
"The money helps in the construction of the building, especially toward the furnishing and implementation of the latest in instructional technology within its classroom," said Sara Lillehaugen, assistant director of development for the Texas A&M Foundation - Engineering.
Donors to the building will have an opportunity to have their name featured on the classroom or lab that they choose.
"From a recognition standpoint, naming a certain part of the building allows for pointed name recognition in a potentially high-traffic area of future potential Shell Chemical Engineering employees, allowing for a positive association between Shell and students' view of Shell's high level of commitment to Texas A&M and Chemical Engineering," Lillehaugen said.
Valerie Green, business administrator of the Chemical Engineering Department, said the building will also hold other types of classes depending on the size of the class.
Although the new building will be mainly used by the Chemical Engineering Department, other departments, including the Electrical Engineering Department, will have labs within the building.
Johan Zaayman, spokesman for Shell Oil Company, said the Shell donation was specific to the Chemical Engineering Department.
"Part of the Foundation's mission is to help provide educational opportunities that prepare students and faculty to meet the needs of the workplace," Zaayman said. "Consequently, we recognize the important role that chemical engineers play in the country's petrochemical industry and believe our donation will help strengthen students' interest and proficiency in this field."
Lillehaugen said the new building provides students with the opportunity to meet educational goals in a safe research environment designed for chemical engineers.
"The chemical engineering department is currently housed in three different buildings, none of which were designed to modern safety standards or with chemical engineering specifically in mind," Lillehaugen said.
The primary location of the Chemical Engineering Department, which is on the third floor of Zachry, will be relocated to the new building in September. The building is to be completed in August.
"It (the Jack E. Brown building) will help usher Chemical Engineering to a whole new level of research and education excellence," Lillehaugen said.