LaSalle University to demolish old church to build new business school

Rendering of LaSalle University's $35 million new business school. Credit: LaSalle University Rendering of LaSalle University’s $35 million new business school. Credit: LaSalle University

To make way for the new $35 million business school at LaSalle University, an 85-year-old stone Presbyterian church will be demolished.

The shuttered church, located adjacent to the Germantown Community Health Services building,was purchased by the university in 2007.

On Tuesday university officials announced plans to build a 78,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed building on the triangular plot sandwiched between Penn Boulevard and Wister Avenue along Chew Avenue in Northwest Philadelphia.

Demolition of the church is set to begin on Nov. 23.

The new building, set to open in January 2016, will include a 300-seat auditorium, boardroom, large atrium and offer outlets for students to contact business people around the world anytime, day or night.

The university plans to pay for the building with a combination of $20 million in funding from a bond offering and $15 million in gifts from alumni.
The school has secured 57 percent of the funding, said spokesman Jon Caroulis.

The business school previously housed its some 6,000 students in centrally located College Hall, which will be renovated for other uses.

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