University of Richmond Dedicates Weinstein Hall; New Social Sciences Building Will House Four Disciplines

October 16, 2003

The University of Richmond officially dedicated Weinstein Hall, the new social sciences building, today during a ceremony honoring its benefactors -- the Weinstein family.

The 53,000-square-foot building provides state-of-the-art quarters for the university's journalism, political science, sociology-anthropology and rhetoric-communication studies departments. The facility also houses the university's Speech Center, Debate Center and Integrated Journalism Center.

The new structure incorporates the former Political Science building and added 38,000 square feet of new classrooms, labs, research suites, meeting rooms and faculty offices, all in the university's signature collegiate gothic architectural style.

Marcus and Carole Weinstein, daughter Allison Weinstein, son-in-law Ivan Jecklin, and Phillip Weinstein, Marcus Weinstein’s brother, took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Weinstein Hall opened for classes with the start of the fall semester in August, but workers completed finishing touches, such as a sunken garden and gargoyles, on the structure last week.

The university followed guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council and hopes Weinstein Hall will receive LEED (Leadership, Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Among its environmentally friendly features are a system that monitors and adjusts fresh air entering the building to improve comfort and save energy; special parking spaces for carpool and alternative fuel vehicles, including plug-ins for recharging electric motors; and special mats at major entrances to remove dirt from shoes. The contractor also used recycled steel and other recycled contents. All materials, such as paint and carpeting, were selected for their low volatile organic compounds, which reduce allergy-related problems for people working in the building.