Faculty, staff, students, and members of the community gathered to celebrate the rededication of John S. Wright Hall on the UNLV campus today. The original Wright Hall, which opened in 1965, was partially demolished. The remaining wing was completely renovated and a new 69,300-square-foot addition was constructed, which includes faculty offices, state-of-the-art laboratories, computer labs, classrooms, seminar rooms, two auditoriums, and student/faculty lounges. The $19.7 million project began in January of 2003.

"What a great moment for UNLV as we reflect on our history and look forward to the future with this marvelous new addition to campus," said UNLV President Carol. C. Harter. "Forty years ago- almost to this day- the UNLV community gathered to celebrate the opening of the original Wright Hall. What a long way we've come since then."

"With more than five-thousand students either majoring or minoring in Liberal Arts, it is easy to see why a building of this magnitude is important to the campus," Harter said. "Add to that the fact that many of the basic core courses are in liberal arts, it is apparent that virtually every student on campus will have learning experiences in this building."

Originally known as the Social Sciences Building, it was formally named in 1976 to honor John S. Wright, a founding member of the UNLV faculty and long-time history professor.

"In an era when new buildings, appropriately, are named for the donors whose financial contributions make them possible, our family is gratified that our father's contribution of teaching, scholarship, and service is still valued and recognized in the name Wright Hall," said Tom Wright, UNLV professor of history and son of John Wright, who attended the ceremony along with other family members.

"When it opened in 1965, it was the largest academic building on campus and it housed almost all the disciplines which today make up the College of Liberal Arts and the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs," Wright said. "This marvelous renovated building today houses just three departments- a bricks and mortar testimonial to UNLV's growth."

Faculty from the departments of history, political science, and anthropology have moved from their temporary offices in the Central Desert Complex into their new and renovated offices earlier this month. Some classrooms, labs, and auditoriums in Wright Hall have been used throughout the Spring semester.