SPRINGFIELD, Mo., November 30, 2020 — Drury University will unveil the name of its upcoming conference center space during an on-campus event at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3. Media are invited to cover the announcement.
The socially distanced event will be held at the Findlay Student Center ballroom. Capacity is limited and RSVPs for guests are required. The announcement will also be livestreamed.
The executive conference center space will be an integral part of the C.H. “Chub” O’Reilly Enterprise Center and Breech School of Business Administration when the building opens in 2022. The adjoining conference center will be approximately 12,000 square feet and have a capacity of up to 300 people. It will be used by the university for academic and social events and will be available for use by the Springfield community as well.
“This space will be a valuable asset for the entire region,” says Drury President Dr. Tim Cloyd. “We’re excited to provide yet another way for the Drury campus to be a focal point for conferences and special events starting in 2022.”
Dana Maugans, director of sales for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the new space will enhance the economic landscape of the city by boosting overall venue capacity.
“The Springfield CVB looks forward to adding Drury University’s new building to our list of conference center offerings.,” Maugans says. “The city has previously hosted events in partnership with Drury such as Stoa Speech & Debate National Invitational Tournament of Champions in 2016, which brought 4,000 participants and spectators and more than 2,000 hotel room nights to the community. There are numerous educational conferences and events as well as other types of groups that can utilize the new space.”
Special naming announcement
The Dec. 3 event will mark the unveiling of naming rights for the conference center space. The lead donor supporting the project is a longtime supporter and benefactor of the university and its mission. Their name will be familiar to those in the Drury community.
“Our donors and alumni are vital to both our current momentum and the long-term success of the institution we all love,” says Rita Baron, chair of the Drury Board of Trustees. “Drury is grateful for those who continue to invest in and support the university, and I look forward to making this next exciting announcement on Dec. 3.”
The conference center space is a key element of the Enterprise Center. The three-story, 56,700-square-foot facility is the first major project of Drury’s campus master plan. The $27 million project is funded entirely through private donations. The Enterprise Center will promote interdisciplinary learning by providing a new home for the Breech School of Business Administration and the Department of Political Science and International Affairs.
Both the Enterprise Center and adjoining conference center will open in fall 2022.
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Media Contact: Mike Brothers, Executive Director of University Relations – (417) 873-7390 or mikebrothers@drury.edu.
