Another $5 Million Pledged for New McCombs School Building

By Andrew Roush in Blog on February 17, 2014 at 4:33 pm | 2 Comments

The McCombs School of Business knows a thing or two about investments, and so do its benefactors, who have made major investments in the school’s newest building. The University announced a new $5 million commitment today from Bob and Marcie Zlotnik, founders of Houston energy company StarTex Power. The gift will benefit the construction of Robert B. Rowling Hall, the next home of UT’s graduate business program.

Bob, BBA ’75, MBA ’80, and Marcie, BBA ’83, Life Members, are contributors to what administrators hope will be a $58 million total by March. The new building is named after former regent Robert B. Rowling, BBA ’76, Life Member, Distinguished Alumnus, who kicked off the campaign with a $25 million donation last year. Once construction is finished in 2017, the ballroom connecting the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center and Rowling Hall will be named in the Zlotnik family’s honor. Two of the Zlotnik’s sons, Kevin and Mitchell, are current McCombs students.

The construction of Rowling Hall may spell the end for Players, a burger joint and longtime campus hangout that reached a 10-year deal with the University in 2012 that gave UT the power to terminate the restaurant’s lease with six months’ notice. UT would have to pay $100,000 for each year remaining on the contract.

The existing McCombs School buildings will be renovated with the help of a major donation from Jim Mulva, BBA ’68, MBA ’69, Life Member, and and his wife Miriam Mulva, and will be collectively renamed James J. and Miriam B. Mulva Hall.

Photo via the McCombs School on Twitter.

Tags: donation, mccombs school of business, philanthropy, Robert Rowling, zlotnik