Le Moyne begins work on Madden School of Business building

SYRACUSE — Construction has started at Le Moyne College to renovate the school’s Mitchell Hall to house the Madden School of Business.

The school held a short ceremony Thursday to mark the beginning of the construction period.

The first phase, which began on Monday, includes the renovation of Mitchell Hall’s first floor and the transformation of the building’s exterior.

The new academic space will feature a trading floor, a financial-education center, a financial-accounting laboratory, and an applied research and executive-education laboratory, Le Moyne said in a news release.

The cost for the project’s first phase is approximately $5.6 million, according to the school.

Le Moyne College is paying for the project through a combination of financial gifts, borrowing through tax-exempt bonds, and a portion of the $2 million Regional Economic Development grant the school received in 2012.

The business school is named for Mike Madden, Le Moyne College class of 1971, who gave the college a $7 million gift in 2012, Fred Pestello, president of Le Moyne College, said during his remarks at the ceremony.

Madden is managing partner of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.–based BlackEagle Partners, LLC.

The school also launched a fund-raising campaign to complement the Madden gift, with a goal of doubling the amount, according to Pestello.

“I’m pleased to announce to you today we have, in just a year’s time, already exceeded that goal,” Pestello said, noting the campaign has so far  raised more than $15 million for the Madden School of Business.

Construction crews will complete the first phase by mid-August. Le Moyne plans to have the Madden School of Business available for students when they return for the fall semester, the college said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com