Fondren Library Center

Dedicated on April 27, 1999, the Laura Bush Promenade is a walkway and garden area outside the Fondren Library Center made possible by a $250,000 gift to SMU from President George W. Bush in honor of his wife Laura's contributions to the advancement of libraries and literacy. The promenade includes walkways, planters and benches on each side of the Fondren Library Center. The west side of the promenade faces the Main Quad and the east side faces Airline Road, marking SMU's eastward growth. The promenade is home to the Faculty Plaza, the Friends plaza, the Class of 1999 plaza, and the WWII Memorial Plaza .

Faculty Plaza Endowment Fund for Library Resources

The Faculty Plaza was established to honor SMU Faculty both past, present and future. While the Plaza was dedicated in the Spring of 2000, bricks and pavers will be added each year until the Plaza is completely full. All profits from the sales of bricks and pavers go directly into the SMU Faculty Plaza Endowment Fund for Library Resources, which provides support for the purchase of library resources in perpetuity.

Faculty Plaza Pledge Form (requires Acrobat Reader)

Friends of the SMU Libraries Plaza

The Friends of the SMU Libraries Plaza was dedicated at the opening of the Fondren Library Center in November 1998. The Friends were proud to join forces with the SMU community to raise funds for the Campaign for SMU: A Time to Lead and pledged $30,000 for benches, bricks and pavers for the plaza. The Friends met and exceeded their pledge in one year. Now and in the future, all profits from the sales of brick and pavers to honor library supporters will go into the Friends of the SMU Libraries Endowment Fund. This fund, established in 1992, secures a permanent source of funds for the Friends to provide continuous support to the SMU Libraries through its grants program and to provide the staff necessary to support the activities of the Friends.

Class of 1999 Plaza

The Senior Class of 1999 chose to name a plaza in the Laura Bush Promenade outside the Fondren Library Center as their Senior Class gift. Seniors and their parents purchased bricks, pavers and benches that were inscribed with their names and quotations. Giving opportunities are still available for class of '99 alumni. For more information, please email Amy Carver at acarver@mail.smu.edu.

WWII Memorial Plaza

The World War II Memorial Plaza at Southern Methodist University is located west of the Fondren Library Center in the Laura Bush promenade between the Science and Engineering Library and Hyer Hall. Dedicated on March 22, 1999, the memorial plaza honors the 134 SMU students who died during World War II. The plaza was a gift to the University from Henry S. Miller Jr. ('34) and Carmen Miller Michael ('45) in memory of their brother, Lt. Jack Miller, a 1941 graduate of SMU who was killed in action at Guadalcanal in 1942.