Bey Hall will be undergoing construction for the addition of Pozycki Hall, an expansion to the Leon Hess Business School (LHBS) and the Kislak Real Estate Institute (KREI), made possible by a donation from alumnus Steven Pozycki, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees.
Vice President of Administrative Services Patricia Swannack said this 20,000 square-foot facility designed by DMR Architects will include four classrooms that will accommodate 30 students each, a 175-seat lecture hall, eight faculty offices, a student lounge, and an exterior terrace.
The two-story building planned to begin construction in May 2014 will be connected to the north side of Bey Hall by an enclosed pedestrian bridge located on the second floor. Swannack said, “Architectural details and exterior brick will compliment already existing buildings surrounding Pozycki Hall.”
Vice President for University Advancement Jason Kroll said the building is being named in honor of ’73 alumnus Pozycki because of his many contributions to the University, including his generous donation to fund Pozycki Hall. Pozycki has been a generous benefactor of the University, according to Kroll, including his previous endowment for the Pozycki chair in the KREI.
Pozycki is Chairman and CEO of SJP Properties. As stated by SJPProperties.com, “[SJP is a] developer of large scale commercial and residential real estate projects in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area.”
Kroll said, “Pozycki is a respected leader in the real estate industry. His support of our programs helps increase awareness of the LHBS and KREI. Additionally, he has helped many of our students learn and start their careers in real estate.”
The addition will not enter or obstruct the commuter parking lot, according to Vice President of Student and Community Services Mary Anne Nagy, for majority of the construction will take place on the black pavement sidewalks located near Torcivia Commons, the lawn in between Bey Hall and the Rebecca Stafford Student Center (RSSC).
Swannack said this addition is not a move towards expanding the number of students who are enrolled at the University, but to provide additional space for the members of the LHBS and the KREI that are currently located in Bey Hall which is now over 20 years old. She said, “All of [the University’s] facility improvements are to enhance quality and to serve the existing population.”
Haley Brue, a junior accounting major, said, “There are a lot of business majors at this school so typically the classes are overcrowded. The demand for space was high so the University had to increase supply in order to please students. This addition will give us more room to breathe in class, and now teachers will be able to weave between the desks to provide students with more individual attention which will ultimately lead to success.”
Brue explained how she likes the idea of the improved learning environment, but worries that she will graduate before Pozycki Hall is completed. She said, “Hopefully, I get to take full advantage of this resource, especially the auditorium, or that will just be a bit disappointing.”
Nagy said the 175-person auditorium in Pozycki Hall will provide an alternate location for events. Young Auditorium seats 120 people, Wilson Auditorium seats 250, and Pollak Theatre seats 700, so she believes this will be a great middle ground.
The addition is donated by Pozycki, according to Director of Student Affairs Petra Ludwig, but the amount has not been made public. The University will, however, be covering the costs of the site work. As stated in an article published in The Outlook on March 29, the University will be paying approximately $1,000,000.
Director of the KREI and Specialist Professor Peter Reinhart said the University is reaching out to other donors to fundraise for the costs of the addition. “This is a huge elite naming opportunity, so people can donate and get the new patio, a classroom, or the auditorium named in their honor,” he said.
The construction of Pozycki Hall is said to be completed in a time frame of 12 to 14 months in order to open in the summer of 2015, which according to Swannack is a realistic time goal.
“Construction really bothers me because I am a person who needs silence to concentrate. So naturally, I will find it very disrupting. I hope it will not interfere with my studies,” said Brue. In addition to noise, Brue finds the appearance of construction to be distracting. “Construction does make the school look temporarily ‘unappealing,’ but I’m sure the building will look beautiful when completed. In the meantime, I’ll just look the other way,” she joked.
The planning and zoning of this facility received approval through the West Long Branch community, as stated by Nagy.
Nicole Comito, a senior graphic arts major, disagrees with Brue and feels the new addition will not be aesthetically pleasing. She said, “From an artistic perspective, putting [Pozycki Hall] there will make the area look too cut-off. The University is so open with all of the trees and squirrels, and blocking it all off would make it feel like maybe I’m losing a part of what made me come here.”
President Dr. Paul Brown is thrilled for the addition of Pozycki Hall and believes it will improve the University’s image. “The University is known for its outstanding facilities and personalized education. Pozycki Hall is an impressive building which along with our outstanding faculty, students, and programs will help to increase awareness and the reputation of Monmouth University,” he said.
Annual Fund Phonathon Manager Terence Bodak discussed the addition of Pozycki Hall to alumni, parents, and friends and received positive reactions. He said, “Our alumni continue to be amazed by the progress of the campus in terms of its construction and the institution’s rise in academic ranking. Letting them know about the pending construction of Pozycki Hall can only further motivate them to support the University.” Phonathon callers serve as ambassadors of the University by calling these target audiences and asking them to support the University’s Annual Fund.
“Going to college is like buying a stock,” said Reinhart. “You want the reputation to grow. As it grows, the value of the degree grows. That’s why students should give back after they graduate because it benefits not only current students but yourself, which enhances the ability for the University to grow even more… Pozycki is aware of the need to continue to grow, and he is a very loyal supporter.”
Pozycki could not be reached for comment.
IMAGE COURTESY of Petra Ludwig
