Nov. 1, 2007 -- A groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 3, will formally begin construction of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Sciences at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, according to Dr. Robert L. Potts, chancellor.

University officials will be joined by other dignitaries for the groundbreaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at the project site, immediately north of the Chickasaw Building and College of Nursing and Health Professions Building on the east side of Caraway Road. The public is welcome to attend the groundbreaking.

ASU announced last June that it has received the largest single donation in its history, a charitable gift of $14,508,342 from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The gift will fund construction of the three-story health sciences center.

Brackett-Krennerich & Associates Architects in Jonesboro designed the building, and CDI Contractors of Little Rock will build it.

The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Sciences is designed as a 50,650 square foot structure that will house the Speech and Hearing Clinic, nursing and nurse anesthesia skills laboratories, large and small classrooms, computer lab, dedicated research spaces and special project rooms. The gift includes more than $1 million in furnishings and major equipment costs, according to Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named.  Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is one of the largest private foundations in the United States.