On Monday, January 22 at 10 a.m., Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) will break ground on its long-awaited Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall.
This is the first of four major projects to occur on the university’s West Palm Beach campus. Under the God-Sized Dreams campaign, the bold capital plan will enable PBA to expand program offerings and build innovative spaces for students, industry leaders, and the public.
To date, PBA has raised over $48 million of its $75 million goal to construct the new business facility, thanks largely in part to a generous $26 million gift from business influencers John J. and Sheila Rinker and the Marshall & Vera Lee Rinker Foundation.
The six-story facility will complement PBA’s elite programs within the Rinker Business School, which earned the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) international accreditation in 2023. This distinction places PBA in the top six percent of business schools globally—and one of 10 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) schools with the accreditation.
The 120,000-square-foot complex will feature a stock trading room, a 300+ seat lecture hall, the Titus Center for Franchising, and the LeMieux Center for Public Policy.
The expansion comes as PBA ushers in year two of record-breaking enrollment and West Palm Beach experiences remarkable growth. The city’s financial and wealth management district has garnered national attention as “Wall Street South,” making it an ideal place for students to intern and work with esteemed businesses—as demand grows for well-rounded young professionals who exemplify integrity, faith, and a commitment to service.
The Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall will also house PBA’s newest center of excellence—the Center for Financial Literacy, which will empower PBA students and community members to become financially literate through biblically-based courses and financial coaching.
In addition to the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall, PBA aims to develop a cutting-edge health science complex, a state-of-the-art performing arts center, and an alumni and student welcome center under the God-Sized Dreams campaign.
