M/I Homes Foundation Gift Supports Knowlton School of Architecture, Fisher College of Business

The Ohio State University has announced a gift of $1 million from the M/I Homes Foundation of Columbus. The gift will support the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture and the Max M. Fisher College of Business.

Half of the gift will support the M/I Homes Materials and Fabrication Laboratory at the Knowlton School, providing a place for students and faculty to experiment with materials and construction processes. Featuring a diverse array of equipment-from table saws and lathes to 3-D prototyping machines and laser cutters-the lab will enable students to learn material properties; put theory into practice by constructing building elements; and gain hands-on-experience with construction practices, using both traditional equipment and the latest technology.

“The Knowlton School is proud to be included amongst the M/I Homes Foundation's projects at The Ohio State University,” said Robert S. Livesey, director of the Knowlton School of Architecture. “The M/I Homes Materials and Fabrication Laboratory will be an essential resource for the students in the new School of Architecture building. It is incredibly apt that design students will be learning about and developing construction techniques in a facility supported by one of the premier home builders in America.”

The other half of the gift provides unrestricted support to emerging priorities at the Fisher College of Business. Fisher College will use the gift to enhance MBA recruitment efforts through graduate student fellowships, to be offered to MBA candidates with the greatest potential for business leadership. Recipients will be known as the M/I Homes Fellows. In addition, a portion of the gift will be used to develop innovative recruitment strategies involving alumni, friends, and current students.

“As one of the leading business schools in the world, Fisher College is committed to recruiting outstanding students who display the highest levels of academic achievement, leadership, and character,” said Joseph A. Alutto, dean, Fisher College of Business. “This significant commitment from M/I Homes will allow the college to attract the most talented students. In addition to demonstrating significant business leadership, M/I Homes is known for its community commitment. Its continued support of Fisher College helps our mission of identifying and developing tomorrow's business leaders.”

The M/I Homes Foundation is a charitable organization funded by M/I Schottenstein Homes, Inc. and supports a variety of educational, cultural, religious, and charitable institutions. M/I Schottenstein Homes, Inc. is the
largest builder of single-family homes in Central Ohio and one of the nation's leading home builders. The company was founded in 1976 in Columbus by Irving E. Schottenstein and the late Melvin L. Schottenstein. Since its inception, the company has sold more than 55,000 homes.

Robert H. Schottenstein, president and vice chair of M/I Schottenstein Homes, Inc. and an officer of the M/I Homes Foundation, stated, “We are proud to make these gifts to the Fisher College of Business and the Knowlton School of Architecture. The quality of education at both the business and architecture schools is superb and we are pleased to provide each with additional support.”

The M/I Homes Foundation has a long and generous history of giving to Ohio State, including gifts to the Department of Athletics; the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute; the Richard
M. Ross Heart Hospital; the Wexner Center for the Arts; and the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, a joint venture of University Libraries and the Department of Theatre, in addition to the Fisher College of Business.

Support from the M/I Homes Foundation for the Fisher College of Business and the Knowlton School of Architecture is part of Ohio State's ongoing fund-raising efforts in support of the Academic Plan. Visit www.giveto.osu.edu for more fund-raising news.

Contacts for more information:
* Jane Carroll Hughes, alumni and communications program coordinator, Knowlton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University, (614) 247-7244 or hughes.426@osu.edu
* Laura Bowers, associate news director, Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, (614) 292-8937 or bowers.182@osu.edu