News and Progress

Engineering building renovation opens

New building named after Mizzou alumnus Thomas and Nell Lafferre

Oct. 28, 2009

The new Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall opened in August. The building, originally Engineering Building East, doubled in size due to the renovation and now houses more than 60,000 square feet of labs, classrooms and offices. Photo by Mary Fama

Many of us remember our first visit to Mizzou, our first sight of the columns, our first professor, our first classroom. Whatever our moment, the experience is with us for life. This sentiment is certainly true for Thomas Lafferre, BS ME ’56. Lafferre remembers his first visit to the University of Missouri College of Engineering in 1952. He toured Engineering Building East with then dean Huber Croft. Lafferre says he never forgot that day.

Today, Lafferre and his wife, Nell, A&S ’55, are giving future generations of students the kind of opportunities they had. In 2004, they made a $7.5 million gift to the College of Engineering to update the building Lafferre first walked through nearly 60 years ago. In 2008, they committed an additional $5 million to support the college. Because of the gifts, today’s students will craft their MU memories and begin their careers in the new Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall.