Business School to dedicate Tata Hall

Harvard Business School (HBS) will soon have a new home for some of its executive education programs.

Ratan Tata, former chairman of India’s Tata Group and a 1975 graduate of HBS’s Advanced Management Program for senior executives, will join Dean Nitin Nohria, President Drew Faust, former Dean Jay Light, HBS alumnus and benefactor C.D. “Dick” Spangler, and architect William Rawn at a dedication ceremony on Monday for Tata Hall.

Located on the northeast corner of the School’s campus in Allston, Tata Hall will enhance and extend the School’s portfolio of executive education program facilities. The building will house executives who come from around the globe to advance their education and then return to strengthen their organizations, thus furthering the HBS mission to educate involved leaders around the world.

“We look forward to welcoming remarkable leaders and contributing to their ability to make a profound difference in the world,” said Nohria.

The building is named in honor of Ratan Tata, who served as chairman of Tata Sons Ltd. from 1991 until his retirement at the end of last year. The building was funded through generous gifts from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Tata Education and Development Trust.

“Harvard Business School is the preeminent place to be exposed to the world’s best thinking on management and leadership, and we are pleased that this gift will support the School’s educational mission to mold the next generation of global business leaders,” said Tata.

The seven-story, glass-and-stone building was designed by William Rawn Associates and built by Bond Construction. Tata Hall, with its distinctive arc shape, complements the School’s existing executive education facilities, which also include McArthur, Baker, and Mellon halls (residences), McCollum and Hawes halls (classrooms), and Glass Hall (administration).

The 161,000-square-foot building will feature two classrooms, 179 bedrooms, and three gathering spaces to enhance community among the nearly 10,000 participants who attend executive education programs each year.

“We’ve created a destination for professionals who are shaped by different backgrounds, yet seek an executive education experience unlike any other. That’s why Tata Hall is all about building connection,” said Rawn.