St. Norbert College Set to Begin Building Donald & Patricia Schneider Family Hall

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From St. Norbert College, May 13, 2024
by Mike Counter, mike.counter@snc.edu, 920-403-3048

The most visible corner of the St. Norbert College campus, along the banks of the Fox River, will soon be the location of Donald & Patricia Schneider Family Hall, thanks to a lead gift from the Schneider family.

The new building will be the home of the Donald J. Schneider School of Business & Economics, and it will be constructed on the site previously occupied by the Pennings Activity Center, the former Pennings High School. Work will begin on the project this month and the new Schneider Family Hall will be completed in time for fall classes in 2025.

“Donald & Patricia Family Hall, a beacon of progress, will undoubtedly transform the landscape for advancing generations of business leaders and the regional and national economy,” said Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., president of St. Norbert College. “It will fortify St. Norbert College’s pivotal role in the Wisconsin business community, igniting a multitude of new opportunities for those who live, learn and work here.”

Donald & Patricia Schneider Family Hall, a testament to innovation, will be a signature showcase building located at the western end of the Claude Allouez Bridge, a bustling point that witnesses the passage of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians daily. The 45,000-square-foot, multi-use facility will house state-of-the-art classrooms and workspaces, designed to foster contemporary learning. It will also provide space for executive education and conferencing opportunities, mand a connected terrace for gatherings along the Fox River. This dynamic space will be the hub for the college’s undergraduate and graduate business and economics programs, including data analytics and a new sports management program launched last fall.

“We are honored and humbled by the Schneider family’s generosity to St. Norbert College and continue to be grateful for their deep commitment to advancing our students, our college and so many others,” added Joyner.

“This jewel of a building, visible, welcoming and right on the spot on the river where the De Pere Norbertines first established themselves," marks an important and exciting moment in the 125-year history of St. Norbert College,” said Kevin Quinn, dean of the Schneider School of Business and Economics and professor of economics at St. Norbert College. “We can’t wait to share it with the community.”

Miron Construction is the general contractor; Workshop Architects of Milwaukee designed the building.

Schneider Family History of support for St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College proudly opened Donald J. Schneider Stadium, located on De Pere’s near west side, in September of 2010, thanks to a major donation from the Schneider family. The 2,454-seat facility houses the Green Knights in football, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.

In 2017, the Schneider family donated an unprecedented gift toward the college’s endowment to honor Donald J. Schneider’s legacy of serving the community and advancing Catholic education.

“Don and Pat’s passion and involvement over the years have been inspiring and instrumental in making St. Norbert an exemplary, mission-centered college,” said Joyner. Don Schneider was the president, CEO and chairman of Schneider National.

Before his death in 2012, he was an outstanding leader and visionary in faith, community and business. Don shared his time and talents with a wide range of academic, industry, business and community organizations, including the United Way of Brown County, the Catholic High School Foundation, Notre Dame Academy, St. Norbert College and the Green Bay Packers, among many others.

Don Schneider had a longstanding relationship with St. Norbert, as a student, alumnus and trustee, as well as being a longtime adjunct instructor in finance and business administration at the college. Don graduated from St. Norbert College with a degree in business in 1957.

For more information, contact Mike Counter at mike.counter@snc.edu or 920-403-3048.