Warrington celebrates dedication of Bergstrom Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The newly refurbished Kelley A. Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies was officially dedicated Thursday afternoon at Bryan Hall.
About 100 Warrington alumni, faculty, staff and guests attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, then toured the remodeled Center, which now resides in Bryan Hall. The Center was previously located in Stuzin Hall.
The 2,200-square-foot Center includes five offices, a spacious lobby, break room and storage space, but its centerpiece is a spacious conference room with a large flatscreen monitor and communications technology allowing for videoconferencing. The multipurpose conference room will benefit faculty and staff conducting research and administrative functions, while giving real estate students a professional environment to carry out mock presentations and other activities.
“This space will make all the difference in the world to us in terms of finally having the dedicated space to host special guests, presentations and meetings in a way that welcomes interaction and activity,” said Dr. Wayne Archer, William D. Hussey Professor and Executive Director of the Bergstrom Center.
The cost of the renovation project was $500,000, and was entirely financed by private giving. Center namesake Kelley A. Bergstrom was instrumental in the initiative, matching the funds raised by fellow alumni and supporters.
“The new space will give UF’s real estate program a visibility that we have not had,” Bergstrom said. “For students and faculty, who know the quality of our education, the Center will be a focal point of pride, and show the historical strength of real estate education at the University of Florida.”
The Bergstrom Center fosters education and the exchange of information among academics, students, researchers and industry professionals; provides an opportunity for students to connect with industry leaders, producing a legacy of outstanding talent and powerful connections; and hails a world-renowned faculty, industry-leading research and a rigorous curriculum positioning the Center as one of the nation’s academic leaders in real estate.
