UMSL Chancellor Tom George (left) presents George Paz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Express Scripts, with a water-color rendering of the renamed Express Scripts Hall at a ceremony held today.
Hewlett Packard and Stanford. Microsoft and the University of Washington. Express Scripts and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Partnerships between private businesses and universities offer advantages that go far beyond each other’s institutional walls.
Since Express Scripts moved to UMSL a few years ago, the partnership has become one of the largest business-university developments in the nation. In recognition of that partnership, UMSL has renamed a prominent campus building Express Scripts Hall. Formerly the Computer Center Building, it houses the university’s computer science and business programs.
UMSL Chancellor Tom George and George Paz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Express Scripts, along with other dignitaries gathered Feb. 25 to unveil the new name and dedicate a plaque in the building’s lobby.
“Because of this extraordinary partnership, our students are gaining real word experience as interns at a Fortune 500 company, and we now have several academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels for Express Scripts employees,” said George. “Our business professors are working on joint research projects at Express Scripts, and we’ve created an anchor for economic development in the region.”
Officials from Express Scripts and UMSL attended the brief ceremony.
“We are honored that the university has recognized our partnership,” said Paz. “We have always been proud of our association with this outstanding institution, with which we share a commitment to the region’s progress and growth. UMSL’s critical mission of preparing its students to make important contributions to our economy and quality of life deserves our continuing support.”
Paz serves as chairman of the university’s Gateway for Greatness Campaign, which seeks to raise $150 million by 2012. Express Scripts, the Express Scripts Foundation and Paz have contributed over $4 million to the campaign.
The Express Scripts UMSL partnership began in 2005 when the pharmacy benefit management company announced it would relocate its world headquarters along the northern edge of UMSL’s campus. The first of four buildings was completed in 2007. A second headquarters building was added to the UMSL campus in 2009. Express Scripts completed the Technology & Innovation Center, which includes a home delivery pharmacy and technologically advanced research lab, last year at the NorthPark business park across I-70 from UMSL, and is expected to complete a fourth building at an adjacent NorthPark site at the end of 2011.
The newest building will house approximately 1,500 Express Scripts employees now located at several sites in the Riverport area of Maryland Heights, Mo. Once that building is complete, UMSL and Express Scripts will employ more than 6,800 people at those north St. Louis County sites.
