For immediate release: October 9, 2002
F or more information, contact Laura M. Massie at 216-368-4442 or lmm25@po.cwru.edu.

 

photos by Marci Hersh Top: CWRU President Edward M. Hundert shakes hands with Peter B. Lewis during the dedication of the innovative new Weatherhead School of Management building named in Lewis' honor. Bottom: Albert J. Weatherhead III turns the microphone over to Frank Gehry, the world renowned architect who designed the Peter B. Lewis Building.

CLEVELAND—The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University today officially dedicated the official dedication of its new home, The Peter B. Lewis Building. Named in honor of lead donor Peter B. Lewis, chairman of the Progressive Corporation, and designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the building is the most advanced management school facility in the world and reflects Weatherhead's international reputation for innovative management education. Lewis, who has donated 36.9 million toward the $61.7 million project, is chairman of the Progressive Corporation, the nation's fourth largest auto insurer.

On the building's exterior, flowing ribbons of shining stainless steel cascade over and down the surface, while inside, fluid, curved walls defy convention. Although the building's appearance is drawing widespread attention, it is the combination of unique spaces, Weatherhead's innovative curriculum and state-of-the-art technology-including the fastest computer network of any university in the world-that creates an entirely new environment for management education and practice.

"The future of business belongs to those who constantly embrace change, risk and explore new ideas," Lewis said. "The building is a place where people cannot help but think differently. It challenges the students, the University and the City of Cleveland to break boundaries. The status quo is not acceptable here."

"I have always through that Progressive can be the greatest company in the history of the world," Lewis added. "With this building, there is no reason Weatherhead cannot aspire to be the greatest business school."

Genesis of an icon

In 1996, the Weatherhead School made the strategic decision to build a new home that would help consolidate the School's programs and activities. At that time, no one imagined the new building would send such a strong message that Weatherhead is firmly in the vanguard of business education.

"The Peter B. Lewis Building is a new landmark for Cleveland and an instantly-recognizable icon for the Weatherhead School that will have widespread influence," said Case Western Reserve University President Edward M. Hundert. "The Peter B. Lewis Building will help us make an impact on our community by attracting students outside of the region-bringing new minds here to stay-and generating increased attention to the important work the School is doing."

"We are confident that the building will live up to the reputation of Mr. Lewis, whose generosity made today possible," Hundert continued. "He has the University's most sincere thanks and gratitude, and more importantly, a very serious commitment to realize his vision for the School, Cleveland and the future of business."

A unique environment

At the recommendation of Mr. Lewis, Case Western retained Frank Gehry, and found the ideal partner to bring Weatherhead into its next stage of life. Gehry saw the incredible potential of the project and worked closely with Weatherhead faculty throughout the creative process.

"I was honored to be chosen by the Case Western University Board of Trustees to give shape to Weatherhead's spirit of innovation," said Gehry. "This building provided the unique challenge of rethinking contemporary education. I asked the faculty some tough questions: What is a classroom? How does the space you teach in encourage the generation of new ideas? Their answers drove the design and have brought a much-needed democracy to the academic environment."

Gehry's design effectively eliminates the traditional, top-down relationship between teacher and student. Interior spaces are specifically designed to encourage informal student-faculty interaction, making teachers and students equal partners in the learning process. Multiple classroom configurations accommodate a variety of teaching techniques and group interaction. In fact, no two classrooms are exactly alike, so students are constantly faced with changing perspectives.

A new way of learning

The building's thoughtful design extends far beyond the surface, combining with state-of-the-art technology to create a learning environment that responds to the evolving demands of business education. A switched-gigabit network is the fastest of any university in the world, capable of transmitting a billion bits of data per second. Advanced audio and video capabilities enable multimedia, distance learning and worldwide video conferencing. In many of the classrooms, instructors can control these technologies through custom-designed "command module" lecterns.

More important are the possibilities the building's technology opens up for students. Every classroom seat in the building features power and data connections to CWRUnet, the University's fiber optic network, and the Internet. Students can use these to instantly share their work or research with the whole class and/or lead it.

"The connectivity that permeates this building that enables unprecedented spontaneity in learning-something that can be shared with an entire classroom, and beyond," commented Mohsen Anvari, Dean of the Weatherhead School of Management. "It enables students and faculty to transcend the physical space, and even the virtual space, to explore new ground within themselves and each other. The Peter B. Lewis Building truly complements and enhances Weatherhead's advanced curriculum to create a unique and powerful learning experience for 21st century managers."

Additional Information For additional information about Weatherhead's Peter B. Lewis building, go to http://www.weatherhead.cwru.edu/pbl/ .

–CWRU–

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