Finn Hall Rising

As for Finn’s path, that almost didn’t lead to studies here. After completing his bachelor’s at San Jose State University, he applied for the MBA program at SCU and was turned down. But Finn was persistent. He met talked with the dean of the business school.

“I got a letter two weeks later,” Finn said. The envelope was thin. “There was one page. It said, ‘We’ve reconsidered.’”

Finn went on to a successful career in financial services, including serving as CEO of Trust Company of America. He has been a member of SCU’s Board of Regents and served on the Los Altos Hills city council. At the groundbreaking, he underscored what a tremendous difference Santa Clara has made for him. While proud of the new building, he also wants to put it in perspective.

“I challenge the University, my fellow regents, trustees, students, community,” Finn said. “How do we stay ahead? How do we stay relevant for the next generation? This building is nothing compared to the challenge we have ahead of us.”

A STUDENT HAND IN DESIGN

The design of Finn Hall is meant to foster interaction among students while maintaining SCU’s hallmark commitment to small residential learning communities. Green technology and efficiency are key. Another factor: For students, college is often the first time they are empowered to make major decisions on their own and shape the community around them.

With that in mind, then-senior bioengineering major Patrick Tavelli ’16 took the initiative to offer a design sketch for the building itself. “The architects, as one would expect and hope, have done a marvelous job of transforming my really crude design into something really beautiful,” he said.

MORE BIG (REALLY BIG) BUILDING NEWS

As we take this story live online, Howard S. and Alida S. Charney Hall, the new home to the School of Law, is opening its doors. Move-in and classes begin in the spring, with a dedication to take place later this year. More in our next edition.

Franklin Pedestrian Mall has been cleaned of construction dust as well—providing a pleasant stroll in front of the Jesuit Residence and the Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History building, anchor to the arts neighborhood.

And work is just beginning on a multi-phase project that is the biggest in the history of SCU: construction of the Sobrato Campus for Discover and Innovation. That campus will rise where Mechanical Engineering, Bannan Labs, Bannan Engineering, and Bannan Hall—which had housed some of the School of Law—now stand. In preparation, SCU begins what’s become known colloquially as the “STEM surge,” shaping up temporary homes for engineering programs in Heafey Law Library and Bergin Hall, 990 Benton, 3305 The Alameda; and Alameda Hall.

Cool mealtime news, too: This spring, the Bronco Patio gets a glass roof and is being joined to the Bronco eatery next door.