Reimagining Van Munching Hall
A Home for the Smith School
How Van Munching Hall is Designed for Learning
When Van Munching Hall opened in 1993, it was christened with a bottle of Heineken—appropriate for the business school’s new home, funded by a gift from Leo Van Munching Jr. ’50, president of the company with the exclusive rights to import the beer. The state-of-the-art building was designed to accommodate many more students and faculty than the school’s previous home, Tydings Hall, and provide space for computer labs to keep ahead of the technology curve.
“I remember taking my last few classes in the new building,” says Evette Lewis ’93, Smith Alumni Chapter Board member. “I still feel the same sense of awe when I walk into the building today.”
Another gift from Van Munching helped double the size of the building in 2002, uniting undergraduate and graduate students under one roof for the first time. Robert H. Smith ’50—a classmate of Van Munching—gave money for an addition to house a new Office of Career Services, plus he set aside funds to maintain Mayer Mall and the landscaping around the building.
Mr. Smith also designed pillars near the clock tower and helped with design choices inside the building.
The Smith School expanded into a wing of the building previously occupied by the School of Public Policy, which moved to a new building in fall 2022.
That renovation and other recent upgrades include new furniture so students can sit and work together, technology-enabled hybrid classrooms, collaborative learning spaces and a new studio for faculty to teach virtually. New technology runs throughout Van Munching Hall, including real-time stock tickers and digital displays. It’s all with the goal of keeping the building ready to support the next generation of learners.
Follow along as the Smith School continues to upgrade Van Munching Hall for the future of learning.
Building Smith's Future
Smith School Dean Prabhudev Konana is transforming learning spaces with technological updates and new construction, including active-learning classrooms and a virtual teaching studio, enhancing global collaboration and business education at UMD.
Two Generous Alumni Gifts Received to Support Smith Strategic Plan
Smith School alumni Bill Boyle and Ab Krall, with his wife Kristen, donated $1.75 million to fund two new classrooms in Van Munching Hall, advancing the school's strategic plan to enhance learning experiences.
Why I Give: Mission Possible: Gifting Early for Maximum Impact
Albert “Ab” Krall ’81, a longtime donor and executive in residence at the Smith School, recently donated $750,000 for a new active learning classroom to enhance experiential learning and collaboration for business students.
Exciting New Construction at Van Munching Hall
The Smith School is building new student collaboration spaces at Van Munching Hall, set to open in 2024. Stay updated on our progress toward creating more effective learning environments.