Published November 17, 2016
MONROE, La. β ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯ welcomes the community to the grand
opening ceremony for its completely renovated Sandel Hall and Barnes & Noble bookstore
on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m.
The $17.4 million, 88,000-square-foot building is a βone-stop shopβ for students,
representing a major step forward in the revitalization of ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯βs facilities. The building
houses the university bookstore, the office of recruitment and admissions, the university
registrar, financial aid, the scholarship office, campus radio stations, an innovation
center, and other core administrative departments.
Although primarily an office building, Sandel Hall now also provides several multimedia
classrooms and conference rooms with cutting-edge interactive features as well as
a state-of-the art biology laboratory.
Opened in 1963, Sandel Hall first served as the university library. It was named after
Monroe resident Percy M. Sandel, a judge of the fourth judicial court. Initially built
as a two-story building, Sandel Hall received a third floor addition in 1977. The
building served as the university library until 1999 when the current library opened.
Since the libraryβs departure from the building, the facility has housed the universityβs
natural history museum, its herbarium, testing center, bookstore, and the office of
recruitment and admissions.
The renovation of Sandel Hall began in 2014. The remodeling was designed by Bill Land
of Land 3 Architect, whose family was also very influential in the development of
ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯βs campus infrastructure. Landβs father was the original architect on Sandel Hall
in 1961, and his grandfather was the original architect on the first building on ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯
campus, Brown Hall, built in 1931.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees will be invited to tour Sandel Hall
and the Barnes & Noble bookstore.
Barnes & Noble is the largest retail bookseller in the U.S. and a leading retailer
of content, digital media, and educational products in the country. ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯ partnered
with the company earlier this year to serve the campus and community as the official
bookstore.
The bookstore opened its doors to ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯ students on Feb. 29 and has enjoyed record sales
during its brief tenure on campus. Their plan is to be more involved with the students
and community by hosting events at the bookstore.
Speakers on the agenda include ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯ President Dr. Nick J. Bruno, ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯ Chief Communications
Officer Lisa Miller, ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΏͺ½±Φ±²₯ Executive Vice President Dr. Stephen Richters, Senator Neil
Riser and Bill Land of Land 3 Architect.
Refreshments will be provided.Β
Parking will be available in the lot adjacent to the Liew Family International Student
Center, located on Northeast Drive just past the main campus entrance.
