WKU cuts the ribbon on new Amy and David Chandler Hall at Gordon Ford College of Business

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky University officially cut the ribbon Friday morning on Amy and David Chandler Hall, the new home of the Gordon Ford College of Business.

Construction on the $74.4 million project began in June 2023, with the 113,000-square-foot facility opening to students, faculty and staff when classes started in August.

The three-story building was designed with students at the center – featuring collaborative workspaces, areas that mimic real-world workplaces, a success center, a center for financial success and even a virtual reality simulation lab to support learning and research.

WKU President Timothy Caboni said the goal was to create a space that fosters connection and collaboration.

“Instead of building a building for faculty, we ask students first, ‘what do you need?’ And then we’ve wrapped everything around those needs,” Caboni said. “What you see is a facility where faculty can’t get away from students, but more importantly, students can’t get away from faculty either. It creates tremendous community every day and makes those 150 hours outside of class just as important as the 15 or 18 inside class. It’s great.”

The hall is named in honor of WKU alumni Amy and David Chandler, who donated $7.5 million toward the project.