Lindner Auditorium to Undergo Renovations

The Lindner Hall Auditorium is scheduled to begin renovation in Summer 2010 and projected to be completed Fall 2010.

Seating, finishes and lighting are all things being looked at for updates or remodeling.

To meet University and the Americans with Disabilities Act classroom standards, the levels of the tiered auditorium will be widened, providing greater mobility.

Currently, the auditorium holds 317 people. Post construction, the maximum seating will drop to 234. Seating will be moved to the center of the auditorium, in an effort to help visibility.

The old chairs will be replaced with larger ones equipped with a swinging arm. Accessibility seating will be located at the back of the auditorium.

In the seating areas, there will be an installation of new carpet and continuous work surfaces with power outlets allowing for laptop use. The egress aisles will be relocated to the sidewall areas of the auditorium and new vinyl treads and risers will be laid in the aisles.

All lighting and ceiling tiles will be replaced to brighten the hall. New dual projection screens and audio-visual equipment will be installed as well.

Originally constructed in 1986, the Lindner Hall Auditorium has been used to hold classes, seminars, speaker series lectures and general public relations events.

“General public/external relations usage has been curtailed in the last few years due to the condition of the facility,” said Tricia Bath, director of college relations for the College of Business

In September 2006, the College of Business requested a facility audit to identify potential repairs. The auditorium experienced dampness and general damage from aging and water leaks in the roof.

Renovations have been made in the past. In Summer 2007, the plaza membrane was replaced, and new flashing and waterproofing was completed.

Despite these repairs, the College of Business continued to receive negative feedback in regard to the condition of the auditorium from University of Cincinnati students in the annual student survey.

This also contributed to the decision to renovate Lindner Hall Auditorium.

“I definitely think it needs to be renovated,” said Joshua Kramer, external vice president of the College of Business Tribunal. “It would help the image of our business school."

These improvements are aimed to help the College of Business in showcasing prominent guests. An increased variety of events that offer students with more exposure to business relations is also expected.

The College of Business’ development office and college leadership worked together to find private donors.

Robert and Rose Fealy are funding the renovations.

Robert Fealy is the president and chief operating officer of The Duchossois Group, an asset management company.

Fealy, an alumnus of UC, looks forward to the renovations and hopes it will be a success.

This year, Fealy was honored with the Carl H. Lindner Award for Outstanding Business Achievement at the Cincinnati Business Achievement Awards.

Along with College of Business’ donors, the college leadership created a plan for the space approved in December 2008.

Although the college does not have a total project cost at this time, all funding is privately supported and will not affect UC’s budget.

The final decisions on interior finishes have not yet been made and they are awaiting the total for the in-kind gift.