Since our founding in 1910 as the first business school west of the Mississippi, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has devoted resources to ensuring that our students are given a strong foundation for business success. In keeping with our effort for business excellence, multiple resources have been dedicated to building a state-of-the-art facility.
Originally constructed in 1935, Davis-Shaughnessy Hall housed the School of Commerce and Finance. Over the years the building has undergone multiple renovations.
In 2000, the Saint Louis University School of Business underwent a major transformation. Through the generous contribution of alumni, specifically from John Cook, the University undertook a building project that increased the business school’s space by 75 percent with the addition of a 60,000-square-foot, $15 million expansion.
The expansion was dedicated in September 2000 and named in honor of John and Lucy Cook in gratitude for their generous support in making the expansion a reality.
The stunning facility truly provides our students the space, tools and support needed to achieve success.
John and Lucy Cook Hall
Meet John Cook
John Cook is the retired chairman, chief executive officer and founder of PRG-Schultz International, Inc., as well as the namesake of our school of business at Saint Louis University. He earned his accounting degree from the School of Business at Saint Louis University while working his way through college. Thanks to Cook and countless others, the business school has more than doubled its original size.
John Cook and Lucy Cook, his wife of more than 40 years, are deeply committed to giving back and helping others succeed. In 1999, that desire to help others came in the form of a $5 million gift to help construct John and Lucy Cook Hall. Today, Cook Hall is home to the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Offices, the Boeing Institute of International Business, the Emerson Leadership Institute, and the Center for Supply Chain Excellence. Students gather to study and work on group projects in individual break-out rooms, a light-filled atrium and the Edward Jones Data Analytics Lab.
Anheuser-Busch Auditorium
The Chaifetz School, through the generosity of Anheuser-Busch, houses a 300-seat auditorium used throughout the year for presentations, meetings, conferences and ceremonies. The auditorium, located in Cook Hall, provides ample space for large events and is outfitted with audio-visual capabilities to support a variety of needs.
The pre-function area provides ample space for receptions, registration, break-out space, meeting space, and networking before and after events for the variety of programs we host.
Behavioral Lab
The Behavioral Lab provides space for Chaifetz School faculty to engage in leading research aimed at improving our understanding of human behavior and informed decision making. The lab also provides a students enrolled in upper-level marketing courses an opportunity to participate first-hand in research, fostering a unique understanding of the research process students can take to the business world.
Break-Out Rooms
One of the most popular features of Cook Hall is the break-out rooms. The addition of Cook Hall brought about 18 private study rooms, or break-out rooms, solely geared for student use. The rooms provide our students a quiet space for individual study or group collaboration. The rooms are one of the most sought out spaces on campus for studying.
Classrooms and Study Space
Along with the other amenities, the Cook Hall expansion brought, the hallmark is the increased classroom space. With 17 classrooms, our facilities provide enough space to accommodate our students, while also being designed to create an inclusive environment. The spaces are engineered with technological features that provide an atmosphere centered around student learning, including:
- Smart technologies
- Document cameras
- A/V equipment
- Wireless access
- Electrical outlets for personal computers
- Lecture capture software for blended learning
Edward Jones Data Analytics Lab
The Edward Jones Data Analytics Lab was made possible with a naming gift commitment from Edward Jones. The room features 12 Bloomberg terminals, the ability for students to use laptop computers and can be configured for use as a flipped classroom where content is often delivered online outside of the classroom and classroom time is utilized to expand on those concepts.
Students taking finance courses will use the Bloomberg terminals as part of their coursework. The lab is a key component in the FIN 4630 Applied Portfolio Management course and the Master of Science in Applied Financial Economics (MS-AFE) program.
Technology Service Center
The Technology Service Center, located in Davis-Shaughnessy Hall, room 473, is available for student use from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Note that hours are subject to change according to the University academic calendar.
The Technology Service Center's computer lab is outfitted with the following services:
- 36 laptop computers available for checkout (for in-class use only)
- Public workstations for the SLU community
- Academic software to support course needs
- Printing and scanning
- Access to Citrix cloud computing
- Study spaces with network access for personal computers
Shanahan Atrium
The Shanahan Atrium is an expansive space providing students and guests a beautiful place to meet, study or relax. Tables, leather furniture, wireless access and the Ameren Café provide a comfortable study area. The space is also utilized for special events and programming, providing ample space for networking, luncheons and awards ceremonies.
Located in the Shanahan Atrium in Cook Hall, the Ameren Café offers a wide selection of food and drink. The café provides pre-made, grab-and-go entrées and made-to-order meals.