Webb Celebrates Official Groundbreaking of Couch Family Academic Center


Jon Couch Speaking at Groundbreaking CeremonyOn Thursday, September 13, 2018, members of the Webb Community gathered to celebrate the official Groundbreaking of the new state-of-the-art Couch Family Academic Center.

The event was attended by members of Webb’s Board of Trustees, Cornerstone Campaign Donors, Carol and Paul Bentel of Bentel & Bentel Architects, DHI Construction led by Howard Dym, the Mayor of Glen Cove, Tim Tenke, Faculty, Administration, and many others.

The celebration, which was held in the Visconti Reception Room, included remarks by Dean Matthew Werner, President R. Keith Michel, Webb Trustee and Campaign Chairman Joseph Cuneo, Carol Bentel FAIA of Bentel & Bentel Architects, and landscape architect Richard Loeffler.

During the ceremony, a plaque was presented to Webb Institute on behalf of Congressman Thomas Suozzi, who extended Webb well-wishes on the construction of the Couch Family Academic Center.

Following the speeches, attendees and students made their way to the back patio of Stevenson Taylor Hall to witness the turning of the soil and a heartfelt speech by Jon Couch, representative of the Couch Family and Cornerstone Campaign Donor, whom the academic center is named after.

“Our family has been extremely fortunate and a principal reason for that good fortune has been William Webb’s vision and generosity,” said Jon Couch. Webb has played a central role in my family for four generations. That being the case, it is a wonderful honor to have the family name associated with this magnificent new facility and we are deeply grateful for the recognition.”

The Couch Family Academic Center is expected to be completed by Fall 2019.

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View The Couch Academic Center Groundbreaking video!

Couch Academic Center Groundbreaking from Webb Institute on Vimeo.