UNLV broke ground today (June 25) for the William G. Bennett Professional Development Building, an 8,000-square-foot-facility that will be adjacent to the new Paradise Elementary School on the university campus.

The building is named for William Bennett, owner of the Sahara Hotel and Casino, who donated $2.2 million to the university to build the professional development building and provide video links to the elementary school building.

"This new building, along with the Paradise Elementary School, will provide the facility for a professional practice school program that we believe will become a national model," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "Mr. Bennett has been generous in his support of our efforts to make UNLV responsive to the needs of our community."

Bennett said, "My wife and I are quite pleased that our contribution to UNLV will provide so many university students and local families with a wonderful facility like the William G. Bennett Professional Development Building. We hope that both UNLV students and local elementary students will benefit from this project."

The new Paradise Elementary School will be a professional practice school for educating at-risk students, training current teachers, and developing future teachers. The 60,000-square-foot school is nearing completion on the northwest side of the UNLV campus as part of a three-way agreement between the Clark County School District, McCarran International Airport, and UNLV. The school will be part of the Clark County School District and will continue to serve the population that it has been serving in its Tropicana Avenue location.

The Bennett Professional Development Building will enable UNLV and the school district to better serve the at-risk students who attend Paradise Elementary School. It also will enhance teacher-education programs in UNLV's College of Education. The building will contain state-of-the-art computer and audiovisual equipment, a seminar room, computer lab, classroom and office space, and a control room for high-tech equipment.