Like many colleges, the academic buildings at Hofstra University have the kind of regal sounding names one would expect from an East Coast institution steeped in history. Dotting the map are names like The Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Cornelius Vander Starr Hall and the Augustus B. Weller Hall. Such names conjure up the images of wealthy donors, famous alumni and stuffy trustee meetings. So it begs the question, how did Hofstra's newest complex get a name so void of meaning as the New Academic Building?
Well, the building is in fact quite new, having opened to students and faculty in October, 2006. The New Academic Building is a state of the art complex designed to house various administrative offices but contains no classrooms. Other notable features include a 230-seat black box drama theater, music storage and practice facilities, and small conference rooms for graduate classes.
Hofstra administrators hired a prominent New York architecture firm and spent nearly $16 million on construction. The University initially decided to call it the New Academic Building simply as a placeholder, operating under the assumption that a wealthy donor would come forward cash-in-hand eager to pay a hefty fee to attach their name to the building.
Naming troubles surrounding the New Academic Building and others represent a growing problem that the university administration is struggling to deal with. Several other buildings on campus have also gone nameless for years before attracting the deep pockets of a donor. While Hofstra does not disclose the value of cash gifts, universities of similar size report seven figure requirements for the naming rights to a major academic building.
With donors presumably tapped out after the millions put up to host the third Presidential Debate last year it's anyone's guess how long it will take before the New Academic Building gets a proper name.
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