Reynolds Hall

After three years of construction, Reynolds Hall, the new home for West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics, welcomed students in the fall 2022 semester.

Named for alumnus Robert “Bob” Reynolds and his wife, Laura, who donated $10 million to the project, Reynolds Hall is located at the former site of Stansbury Hall, along Morgantown’s scenic waterfront on the Monongahela River.

“It’s very satisfying to be able to plant the seeds for other people’s success,” Bob Reynolds said. “I am delighted to help the young people of the greatest state in this country. That’s what ‘paying it forward’ means to me.”

The state-of-the art facility’s highly adaptive, collaborative spaces reflect a reimagined vision for business education at WVU along with the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab and Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, both housed in the Chambers College Innovation Ecosystem. The innovative approach focuses on creative problem-solving and risk-taking, integrating start-up culture with an entrepreneurial mindset to cultivate business leaders.

Reynolds Hall is an experiential and educational hub that features advanced learning environments and opportunities to propel WVU students to the forefront of business education. The collaborative classrooms in Reynolds Hall break the mold of the traditional unilateral classroom. Faculty are able to intermingle with students as they teach, and students are able to work with each other as part of the learning experience.

"Walking through the classrooms, hallways and stairways felt like I was walking through a company's building, not a school," said Emma LaBombard, a sophomore majoring in accounting and management information systems. "I am most excited to start collaborating and networking with others at Reynolds Hall. Students are going to be more engaged in and excited about their coursework, as well as be better prepared for the workforce. Former Dean Javier Reyes was right, business is happening here." 

The designers pulled inspiration from other prominent universities and business programs across the country. Reynolds Hall more than doubled the Chambers College’s previous space to 108,000 square feet – including 175 offices for faculty and staff, three computer labs, 17 study rooms, several lounge areas and a food vendor. Every classroom is fitted with multiple large monitors, televisions, dry-erase boards and mobile furniture to customize classroom layouts.

Along with administrative offices, there is a balcony on the top floor overlooking portions of the fifth floor, as well as a vast view of the Monongahela River from multiple areas. The six-story building also includes a “mini Wall Street” trading room, a social media center, a cybersecurity center and a data analytics room. In addition, Reynolds Hall has a full fitness center on the first floor available for students to use.

A portion of the original Stansbury basketball court, which was graced by Mountaineer and NBA legends such as Jerry West, is mounted on a wall on the building’s third floor. The building also features a Business Hall of Fame including prominent members, donors and instructors from the WVU business program throughout the years.

Alumni and friends can still support Reynolds Hall. Interested supporters can visit Building Beyond for more information about the project and the Chambers College, or email Abigail Esguerra at abby.esguerra@mail.wvu.edu.