New home for Charlotte MBA programs promises to enhance school's relationship with business community
Wachovia Corp.’s cultural-business building project in uptown Charlotte will provide a new home for the Babcock School’s Charlotte MBA programs and give the school an opportunity to further integrate and partner with the Charlotte business community.
The project, planned for First and South Tryon streets, will provide an impressive campus that will include art and cultural museums, a performing arts theater, condominiums and retail stores in addition to corporate space to be used by Wachovia and educational space for the Babcock School. It is expected to be completed in 2009.
Wachovia’s 48-story office tower will provide approximately 30,000 square feet on the building’s second and third floors for the school’s MBA degree programs, executive education initiatives and the Family Business Center ~ Charlotte Metro. The school’s identity will be integrated throughout the first floor of the building and along the street outside.
Babcock’s goal is to build a collaborative, interactive environment with flexible space that will enhance creative, innovative teaching and learning. The state-of-the-art campus will include a technologically-advanced infrastructure, tiered and level classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, breakout rooms to accommodate small group work, study rooms and student work areas, and conference rooms for board and group meetings.
The school has offered its evening MBA program in the city since 1995 and added its Saturday MBA program in 2004. Recent and anticipated future growth of the school in Charlotte and a desire to be near the city’s dynamic, corporate center uptown are prime motivations for the school’s involvement in the project.
Artists’ renderings, which were unveiled Dec. 6, and more information on the project are available at www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/16182383.htm.