BOSTON, MA, April 19, 2017 – Richard C. Walsh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Walsh Brothers, Incorporated, joined the leadership of Harvard Business School (HBS) today at the “topping off” ceremony at the construction site of the new Klarman Hall Convening Center. This state-of-the-art structure is made possible by a generous gift from Seth Klarman, President and CEO of The Baupost Group, a Boston-based investment management firm, and his wife, Beth, president of the Klarman Family Foundation. This traditional ceremony, signifying the completion of the structural phase of the project, included remarks by Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria, Seth Klarman, and Richard Walsh.
The “topping off” ceremony is a long-standing tradition in construction derived from an ancient Scandinavian builders’ rite and held now when the highest beam of steel is hoisted into place. In those times, a small tree was affixed to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in the construction of the building. In the modern-day version, it marks an important milestone in the building process. The entire HBS community, including students, faculty, and staff, along with construction workers were invited to sign the beam and then watched as it was raised into place.
“This celebration recognizes the remarkable efforts of more than 100 construction workers and engineers who raised this structure and move us yet another step closer to realizing the vision we have for Klarman Hall,” said Dean Nohria. “Harvard Business School hosts some 700 events a year in which tens of thousands of people from around the world participate. With the addition of Klarman Hall, Harvard Business School seeks to convene these important voices to discuss and address the critical issues facing our times.”
Scheduled to open in fall 2018, Klarman Hall will combine elements of a large-scale conference center, a performance space, and an intimate community forum where HBS can harness the energy and creativity of the thousands of students, faculty, alumni, and leaders of all kinds who come together at HBS each year for a wide variety of activities, from research conferences to symposia to cultural events.
Klarman Hall was designed by William Rawn and Associates as a vibrant space with an eye toward flexibility, adaptability, and accessibility. This LEED Gold sustainability standard design also features technology enabling virtual connections with scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders from around the world and acoustics and equipment for many types of events, from case discussions and lectures to films and cultural showcases.
About Harvard Business School
Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 200 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and doctoral degrees, as well as more than 70 open enrollment Executive Education programs and 55 custom programs, and HBX, the School’s digital learning platform. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders who make a difference in the world, shaping the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.
About Walsh Brothers, Incorporated
Walsh Brothers, Incorporated, founded in 1901 and based in Boston, is a leading construction management firm well known for its work on complex, high-quality and sensitive building projects in a wide range of industries and specialties. For more information, please visit www.walshbrothers.com or https://www.linkedin.com/company/walsh-brothers-incorporated-
Contact:
Kenneth White
Director of Business Development
kwhite@walshbrothers.com
