Jacksonville State University on Monday dedicated its new Hugh D. Merrill Hall, home to the school’s business programs. The former Merrill Hall was destroyed by a tornado in 2018.
The new 100,000-square-foot building includes a 300-seat auditorium, classrooms, finance lab, career development center, offices and more.
“We settled upon a design that honors the original building but provides all the new features and latest technology not available when the building was first constructed in 1970,” said President Don C. Killingsworth Jr. “The result was a modern twist on the historic campus icon.”
Hugh D. Merrill, for whom the building is named, was a state representative who helped upgrade the status of JSU from teacher’s college to state university. He also serves as president pro tempore of the JSU board for 12 years.
His cousin, secretary of state John Merrill, was among the speakers at the dedication.
Home to the College of Business and Industry, Merrill Hall houses programs in applied engineering and communications as well as traditional business programs like marketing, finance, economics and accounting.
Birmingham-based Doster Construction was general contractor for the project with design by Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York City and Davis Architects of Birmingham.
