First look at Marquette's O’Brien Hall, new home for the College of Business Administration

Marquette University’s new College of Business Administration facility is now open.

The Catholic, Jesuit university in Milwaukee opened the doors to the Dr. E. J. and Margaret O’Brien Hall as the spring 2023 semester started this week. The building is at 1530 W. Wisconsin Ave. O’Brien Hall took the place of the former McCormick Hall, which Marquette demolished in 2019.

The university announced its plans for the 109,000-square-foot building in 2020. With a $60 million price tag, Marquette says O’Brien Hall is the largest fully donor-funded construction project in its history.

J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. served as builder. The higher education institution worked with BNIM, Workshop Architects and GRAEF on the design.

With O’Brien Hall now open, the College of Business Administration has relocated from its previous home at David A. Straz Jr. Hall, 1225 W. Wisconsin Ave. Marquette is planning a renovation project so that building can house its College of Nursing.

O’Brien Hall features classrooms with technology to accommodate virtual instruction, a new Brew café, meeting rooms and other amenities.

“Since good business – business with purpose – isn’t done in a silo, O’Brien Hall emphasizes innovative, collaborative spaces where our students are immersed in experiential learning and creative solutions every day,” acting Keyes Dean of Business Administration Tim Hanley stated.

January 19, 2023
Sari Lesk, Reporter Milwaukee Business Journal