TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The quality of student life at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has taken another step forward with the opening of a new glass-enclosed pavilion, with sustainable features, that’s adjacent to a renovated and expanded student union. It’s all possible through the continued support of Linda and Mike Mussallem.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility was conducted today to kick off the institute’s Homecoming festivities (Oct. 4-5).
The Mussallems provided a $1.5 million gift to cover design, construction and equipment costs for the project. It supplemented a $9 million lead gift for a $25 million expansion of the student union, renamed the Mussallem Union in honor of the couple in May 2018. The facility has become known affectionately on campus as “The Muzz,” which is a Mussallem family nickname.
Mike Mussallem, a 1974 chemical engineering alumnus, is chairman and chief executive officer of Edwards Lifesciences, based in Irvine, California. The Gary, Indiana, native is a Rose-Hulman trustee who received an honorary degree from his alma mater in 1999.
Rose-Hulman President Rob Coons noted that, “It was just a few years ago that Linda and Mike Mussallem approached us with the idea to transform our student union into something that would be a true hub of student life and a stunning campus centerpiece. That transformation has taken another step forward with the pavilion, which is a tremendous new addition to the quality of life on our campus.”
The pavilion has seating for 40 to 50 people and will be able to host events nearly year-round, with sliding glass doors around the perimeter. Audio-visual equipment can be used inside the building for multimedia presentations, including student movie nights and other gatherings. Outdoor grills also are available for use during student events.
The pavilion features a sustainable green roof that will be visible from the second floor of the nearby student union. This provides continuity with the large living wall consisting of potted tropical plants that serves as a focal point and provides a soothing atmosphere for students in the building’s Hulman Living Room.
In a joint statement Linda and Mike Mussallem remarked, “We’re thrilled that The Muzz has become a gathering place and opportunity for creating community at Rose-Hulman. We hope that the addition of the pavilion will provide even more opportunities for students and others in the campus community to come together for collaboration and knowledge sharing, as well as for fun, relaxation and togetherness.”
Students will have the opportunity to give the pavilion a permanent name. The Mussallems announced details of a campus contest during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The pavilion was designed by RATIO Architects of Indianapolis, which also designed the Mussallem Union. C.H. Garmong & Son of Terre Haute was the project’s construction manager.-
Mike Mussallem has led Edwards Lifesciences for more than 19 years, during which the company has become a global leader in patient-focused medical innovations with the introduction of lifesaving and life-sustaining therapies such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, rapid-deployment surgical heart valve replacement and non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring. He was recognized in 2018 at No. 15 among the world’s best-performing chief executive officers, as compiled by Harvard Business Review. Mussallem was the featured speaker at Rose-Hulman’s 2015 commencement.
PHOTO:
Linda and Mike Mussallem joining administrators, trustees and students in cutting the ribbon to open the new Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology student union pavilion.
Photo Credit: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology/Bryan Cantwell