May 24, 1996: Volume 37, Number 4

Administration Building to be Named for Feigenbaums

A landmark 125-year-old College building that houses the offices of the president and other college administrators will be named the Armand V. and Donald S. Feigenbaum Hall.

The Feigenbaum brothers, of Pittsfield, received undergraduate degrees at Union, Donald in 1946, Armand in 1942.

Armand Feigenbaum was worldwide manager of manufacturing operations and quality control for General Electric and Donald Feigenbaum was a top manager in GE's jet engine business when they founded General Systems Co. 30 years ago. The Pittsfield-based international engineering firm designs and implements integrated management systems for major corporations throughout the world; in a recent article, Business Week said about the Feigenbaums that "Management isn't an art to them; it's a science."

President Roger H. Hull announced that the formal dedication of the building will take place Oct. 25, during the College's homecoming weekend. "We are very pleased to place the Feigenbaum names on this building to recognize not only their outstanding professional achievements but also their support and generosity to Union. Their recent major gift provides continued momentum to our $150 million capital campaign, which is now nearing completion. The Feigenbaum name is known worldwide and is synonymous with quality management. It is appropriate that the building that houses Union's administration will now bear their name, which will forever be tied to the college. I couldn't be more delighted."

Dr. Armand Feigenbaum, president and chief executive officer of General Systems Co., earned the degrees of master of science and Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the originator of Total Quality Control, and his 1951 book on the subject has been published in more than a score of languages and is widely used throughout the world as a foundation for quality control practice. A 40th anniversary edition was published in 1991.

Elected to the National Academy of Engineering of the United States in 1992, Dr. Feigenbaum has served as head or board member of numerous organizations, including the International Academy for Quality, the American Society for Quality Control, the Council for International Progress in Management, and the Engineers Joint Council. He has received an honorary doctorate from Union and was awarded the college's Founders Medal for his "distinguished career in management and engineering."

Donald Feigenbaum, chief operating officer and executive vice president of General Systems Co., earned his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He is one of the acknowledged world leaders in systems management and systems engineering. He was one of Union's youngest graduates to be elected to Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honorary, after his entrance into engineering practice, for his outstanding technology contributions.

Mr. Feigenbaum has widespread interests in professional engineering and management activities. He has held leadership positions in numerous organizations and was for eight years founding chairman of the systems engineering committee of the American Society for Quality Control.

The administration building was constructed in 1871 as a residence for Union President Eliphalet Nott Potter. When Potter left the college in 1884, the building became a home for two faculty families. After a fire, the structure was remodeled in 1919 to become the college's administrative building; up to that time, administrative offices had been scattered across campus.

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