How some UNLV buildings got their names
Take a walk through virtually any university’s campus, and names both familiar and unheard of are plastered on the sides of many of the buildings.
Schools and often entire colleges are named after people, usually either generous donors or influential educators.
That is true at UNLV, where buildings are named after everyone from former state government officials to local entrepreneurs.
Here is a selection of how some UNLV buildings and colleges got their names:
GREENSPUN HALL
Home to the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, the Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, the state-of-the-art building opened in 2008. The Greenspun Family Foundation contributed $37 million for the project, the largest single donation in UNLV history.
Inside Greenspun Hall:
• GREENSPUN COLLEGE OF URBAN AFFAIRS
The college was created in 1996 and renamed later that year after a $1.7 million gift from the Greenspun family. Hank Greenspun was the longtime editor and publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, which the family continues to operate. They are also active real estate developers.
• LINCY INSTITUTE
The institute, which works with community organizations to address social problems, was established in 2010 through a $14 million gift from Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation. Kerkorian, a casino mogul and early developer in Las Vegas, named his charitable foundation after his daughters, Linda and Tracy. Last year, the foundation ceased to exist, transferring all of its approximately $200 million in assets to UCLA as a gift.
THOMAS & MACK CENTER
The basketball arena opened in 1983 and was named in part for the contributions of bankers Parry Thomas and Jerry Mack to the development of the UNLV campus over the years. The building was not named in connection with a specific monetary gift.
COX PAVILION
The smaller arena, adjacent to the Thomas & Mack, houses women’s basketball and other sports. Its name is the result of an annual contact for naming rights.
MENDENHALL CENTER
The $11.7 million basketball practice facility, which opened last month, was built entirely with donations from Bob Mendenhall, Maury Gallagher, Bill Paulos, Bill Wortman and Hope Anstett.
THOMAS T. BEAM ENGINEERING COMPLEX
The Beam Engineering Complex, which houses the engineering college, opened in 1988. A $1 million cumulative gift from the Beam family between 1983 and 1985 led to the building’s name. Several other buildings on campus also carry the Beam name.
Inside the Beam Engineering complex:
• HOWARD R. HUGHES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
When the school of engineering separated from the College of Sciences in 1988, the new college took on Hughes’ name. This followed a $2 million gift from the Hughes Corporation beginning in 1986.
FLORA DUNGAN HUMANITIES BUILDING
Opened in 1972, the seven-story building is the tallest on campus. It was named after former Nevada System of Higher Education regent Flora Dungan, who died in 1973.
JOHN S. WRIGHT HALL
Opened in 1965, it was renamed in 1976 after Wright, a professor emeritus of history.
LIED LIBRARY
The library, opened in 2001, was named after local real estate developer Ernst F. Lied after a $15 million gift from the Lied Foundation Trust.
FRANK AND ESTELLA BEAM HALL
Includes:
• WILLIAM F. HARRAH COLLEGE OF HOTEL ADMINISTRATION
The college was renamed in 1989 after a $5 million gift from the Harrah family. William Harrah was one of Nevada’s gaming pioneers and the founder of Harrah’s Hotel and Casinos.
• LEE BUSINESS SCHOOL
The Business College was renamed last year after casino owner Ted Lee and his wife, Doris, donated $15 million to the college.
