Rice University breaks ground on new Continuing Studies building

The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies broke asphalt Thursday, Dec. 13 for the construction of the D. Kent and Linda C. Anderson and Robert L. and Jean T. Clarke Center.

More than 300 people were present at the site for the groundbreaking ceremony, including Rice trustee D. Kent Anderson and his wife Linda C. Anderson, Rice trustee emeritus Robert L. Clarke, members of the Anderson and Clarke families, members of the Rice community, the board of trustees, donors and alumni, according to a press release from the school.

"This is an extraordinarily beautiful day for this great moment, for a great building and one of the most beautiful aspirations of our university," said Rice President David Leebron in the press release. "From the very beginning, President Lovett envisioned Rice as a great university that would take its position among the great universities not only of the nation, but of the world. And at the same time, he was very clear that this was to be a university for Houston and dedicated in substantial ways to the success of the city and the opportunities of its population, particularly in what we've come to call lifelong learning."

The Anderson-Clarke Center will be three stories and 53,000 square feet, with 24 classrooms, conference rooms, a language center, an auditorium and a common area. The facility will allow the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies to expand to 20,000 enrollments per year.

"Almost 45 years ago to the day, the Office of Continuing Studies was announced with the first course offered the following year," said Mary McIntire, the dean of the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, in the press release. "Since then we have expanded our reach to 14,000 enrollments a year, serving lifelong learners, K-12 teachers and students, nonprofit leaders, language learners and professionals seeking to build or change careers."

Construction will begin later in December. The project was made possible by a naming gift from Kent and Linda Anderson, Robert Clarke and his late wife, Jean Puddin, and more than 440 other donors.

The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies offers classes in college readiness, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, language, liberal studies, teaching, literacy and culture, as well as personal and professional development and certificate programs. The school's English as a Second Language program has attracted students from more than 100 countries around the world.

Rice University is located at 6100 Main St., Houston.

For more information, call 713-348-4803 or visit www.gscs.rice.edu.