CoSci Advisory Council donates $250,000 toward office suite in Francis Hall renovation effort

Joe Horlen

Joe Horlen

[Francis Hall giving opportunities] (http://cosc.arch.tamu.edu/francis-hall/gifts/)

[Francis Hall] (http://cosc.arch.tamu.edu/francis-hall/) , future home of the Texas A&M [Department of Construction Science] (http://cosc.arch.tamu.edu/) , will be enhanced with a office suite built with a $250,000 gift from the department’s [Construction Industry Advisory Council] (http://cosc.arch.tamu.edu/industry/) to support its membership, career fairs, and internship program.

The gift is one of the largest contributions to the $8 million renovation of the historic building, scheduled to house the Department of Construction Science beginning in fall 2014. The donation to the building’s [renovation campaign] (http://cosc.arch.tamu.edu/francis-hall/gifts/) will be combined with funding from the university.

CIAC consists of construction industry leaders and former construction science students who advise department administrators and faculty on contemporary construction issues and influence the department's strategic direction and course content.

“The 500-square-foot office and meeting space in Francis Hall will greatly enhance the impact of CIAC, already the largest and most actively involved industry advisory board of any program of construction education in the nation,” said Joe Horlen, head of the Department of Construction Science. “The gift clearly demonstrates CIAC’s level of commitment to construction education at Texas A&M.”

CIAC was noted as a key strength of the department's undergraduate and graduate programs at Texas A&M in recent accreditation reports.

Richard Palmer, CIAC president and a 1988 graduate of Texas A&M, signed the gift agreement following CIAC approval of the gift during its fall 2012 meeting in College Station. The gift is part of approximately $300,000 budgeted by CIAC each year to provide financial support for student enrichment, scholarships, research, and various departmental programs.

“The investments that CIAC makes in Texas A&M’s construction science programs are the gifts that keep giving,” said Palmer. “Each class of graduates reflects the input and contributions of CIAC companies; as a result, they continue to be some of the most highly recruited in the construction industry.  These graduates return as representatives for CIAC companies and the process repeats itself.”

For more information about the Francis Hall campaign contact Larry Zuber, assistant vice president for development, Texas A&M Foundation, at l-zuber@tamu.edu or 979.845.0939, or Joe Horlen, department head, Construction Science Department, at jhorlen@tamu.edu or 979-458-3477.

See related story : "$5 million campaign launched for new construction science building."

posted February 1, 2013