LAS VEGAS - January 24, 2007 - UNLV celebrated the beginning of construction for the new home of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Jan. 24 during a special groundbreaking ceremony featuring members of the Greenspun family and UNLV. Greenspun Hall will be a prominent landmark for the UNLV campus and the first project to begin the transition envisioned by "Midtown UNLV."

The 121,000 square-foot, five-story building will feature increased classroom space, broadcast studios for UNLV's radio and television stations, and a 190-seat auditorium. Greenspun Hall is also one of two demonstration projects under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, which gauges building sustainability and efficiency through the utilization of alternative and renewable energy technologies. Innovative energy features for the building include "chilled beams" for heating and cooling, extensive use of natural light, and a comprehensive photovoltaic array that will account for more than 15 percent of the total annual energy for the building.

With plans to consolidate journalism and media studies, communication studies, criminal justice, public administration, social work and environmental studies into one building, Greenspun Hall will be the fifth largest academic building on the UNLV campus.

The Greenspun Family Foundation is contributing $37 million for the project--the largest single donation in UNLV history, and one of the largest in state history. The family has worked closely with the College of Urban Affairs and UNLV for many years and was honored at the special groundbreaking ceremony.

The design architect for the Greenspun Hall building project is Robert A.M. Stern Architects; the architect-of-record is HKS Architects, Inc.