Business Administration Building
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
When first opened in 1990, the Business Administration Building was known as the Administrative Science Building. It served as a home for the The College of Administrative Science providing classrooms, computer laboratories, lecture space, an auditorium, and other academic spaces for the growing college.
Images
Business Administration Building
View of the back of the Business Administration Building at UAH
View of the Business Administration Building from the front parking lot
View of the Business Administration Building from Holmes Avenue
Construction of the Business Administration Building
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Plans for the new building were unveiled in April of 1989, but funding for the project was limited. The design committee, architect Larry Hughes, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville president at the time, Dr. Louis Padulo, concluded that increasing tuition was the only way to fund the construction of the building.
Dr. Padula proposed the tuition increase in April 1989. The tuition increase was criticized, but was ultimately approved by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, with an additional statement to address Padulo's position, reading in part:
We support his presidency and his vision, and look forward to the benefits that UAH, Huntsville and the state of Alabama will experience under his leadership. We also pledge to do everything that we can do to help him succeed.[1]
Groundbreaking for the new structure took place on the 11th of September in 1989. The building, with a total size of 70,000 square feet, was built to be three stories tall and contain "20 classrooms, nine laboratories, and a 400-seat auditorium that can be used for lectures, recitals, and similar activities."[2] The construction of the new building would relieve pressure on the existing classrooms spread out across various other campus buildings, so that there would be enough space for all students enrolled in business classes. That had been a serious issue for the College of Administrative Science before.
The building, opened in 1990, was one of the first buildings to prohibit smoking in interior spaces. When it was opened, it housed classrooms, computer laboratories, and all of the administrative and faculty offices for the College of Administrative Science. Now referred to as Business Administration Building, it still houses the College of Business.
Cite This Entry
Sears, Christine , Danial Ahari, and Drew Adan. "Business Administration Building." Clio: Your Guide to History. August 3, 2022. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://theclio.com/tour/2221/11
Sources
Sampson, Marian Delaney. "Thompson comments on new building plans." Exponent (Huntsville) April 12th 1989. 1.
Sampson, Marian Delaney. "Billings unveils details of new building." Exponent (Huntsville) April 19th 1989. 2.
[1] Sampson, Marian Delaney. "Board of Trustees approves UAH tuition increase." Exponent (Huntsville) June 21st 1989. 1-2.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville. "Padulo speaks to Chamber of Commerce." Exponent (Huntsville) April 26th 1989. .2.
[2] The University of Alabama in Huntsville. "Administrative Science Breaks Ground for Building/Welcomes Faculty." Postscripts (Huntsville) June 14th 1989. 8 ed, 13 sec.7.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville. "New building to be opened." (Huntsville) August 22nd 1990. 3.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, "1990-1992 Catalog" (1990). Course Catalogs. 16. https://louis.uah.edu/catalogs/16.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Business Administration Building, UAH Events. Accessed July 20th 2022. https://www.uah.edu/events/venues/detail/20/1/business-administration-building.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, “View of the back of the Business Administration Building at UAH.,” The UAH Archives and Special Collections, accessed June 9, 2022, http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/items/show/775.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, “View of the Business Administration Building from the front parking lot.,” The UAH Archives and Special Collections, accessed June 9, 2022, http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/items/show/773.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, “View of the Business Administration Building from Holmes Avenue.,” The UAH Archives and Special Collections, accessed June 9, 2022, http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/items/show/768.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, “Construction of the Business Administration Building.,” The UAH Archives and Special Collections, accessed June 9, 2022, http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/items/show/759.