A Bellarmine University building has been renamed Nolen C. Allen Hall in honor of a retired philanthropist who was president of a Louisville accounting firm for nearly four decades.
A 19,500-square-foot addition to the building will be under construction this summer.
The four-story office building at 2120 Newburg Road houses the Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education, the Center for Regional Environmental Studies and a physical therapy program. It also is home to some university offices. The building was formerly called the Bellarmine Office Building and the 2120 Building.
Allen was a founding partner, president and chairman of the Cotten & Allen accounting firm. Until last year, he was also a member of Bellarmine’s board of trustees.
Allen taught accounting classes at the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business. ?The university “knighted” Allen in 2001 during an annual event that recognizes individuals for their exemplary service to Bellarmine. In 2006 he received an honorary doctorate from the university.
“Nolen and Maydie Allen have been great friends to Maureen and me, and strong advocates for Bellarmine University,” said Dr. Joseph J. McGowan, Bellarmine’s president. “The progress and growth we’ve accomplished through our Vision 2020 plan would not have been possible without Nolen’s leadership and support.”
McGowan noted that Allen was involved in efforts to purchase the building that now bears his name in large letters visible from Newburg Road. The university acquired the building and the 13 acres surrounding it in 2001.
The construction for the 19,500-square-foot addition will add three floors atop an existing one-story area at the back of the main building. The expansion will accommodate enrollment growth in the physical therapy, environmental studies and education programs housed in the building.
The $2.5 million addition will also create two new laboratory areas, a large classroom, nine new offices, a new student lounge and additional restrooms. The project will add 54 new parking spaces for Allen Hall and construction is expected to be complete in June of 2013.
