Ustin Hall – Ribbon Cutting: Tuesday, April 22

On Tuesday, April 22, Monroe College President Stephen J. Jerome, along with elected officials, college administration, faculty, and staff, and community leaders, cut the ribbon on Ustin Hall (YOU-sten), a spectacular 32,000 square-foot building that is the new Bronx campus home to the King Graduate School of Business and the Monroe School of Business.

“For 75 years Monroe College has been dedicated to the success of its students,” President Jerome said. “The opening of Ustin Hall reinforces that commitment by providing a state-of-the-art facility for graduate and undergraduate business students. As a result, we’re improving our students’ ability to succeed in the rapidly changing global economy.”

Located at 2375 Jerome Avenue on the corner of 184th Street, Ustin Hall is the sixth building on the college’s Bronx campus. It has been named in honor of Joan Ustin, the Chair of the college's Board of Trustees, who has been affiliated with Monroe for more than 20 years. Ms. Ustin’s career typifies much of what Monroe represents. After helping implement a major community-based urban revitalization program, Ms. Ustin established her own consulting firm that directed the training and development function for major New York banks.

“It’s quite an honor to be recognized in this manner,” said Ms. Ustin. “But what’s most important is that Monroe graduate and undergraduate business students use every aspect of this wonderful facility and realize their potential.”

Ustin Hall contains twenty classrooms, student and faculty lounges, a café, offices, and space for group meetings and lectures with seating for approximately 100 people. One of the most striking highlights of the interior is a sweeping staircase across the lobby from the main entrance. Finishes and furnishings bring a subtle elegance to the facility that promotes academic activity. The exterior resembles the campuses' other structures with a brick façade highlighted by stone.

One important aspect of Ustin Hall is the solar technology on its rooftop. The 50-KW solar panel system will provide an estimated 57,000 KW hours of electricity. Also, the system’s racking installation device will also help conserve energy. Made of R-10 insulation material, it will reduce the building’s heating and cooling needs. From a global perspective, this means a reduction of about 100,000 lbs of CO2 not being emitted into the environment. That translates into about five acres of trees being planted annually, not driving 75,000 miles on a car, or recycling 950,000 soda cans every year.

Ustin Hall was designed by architect Michael Just, AIA and interior finishes were developed by the architect and members of the college administration.

“This is the best way to celebrate Monroe’s 75th Anniversary,” said President Jerome. “With Ustin Hall we’ve improved educational opportunities for our present students and at the same time, we’ve laid the foundation for the future.”