Loyds Fund Residential Commons

SMU Trustee Paul B. Loyd Jr. ’68 and his wife, Penny Requa Loyd, are continuing their longtime support of SMU with a $5 million gift to build a Residential Commons, one of five new student residences under construction in the southeast section of campus.

The Loyds also provided funding in support of the new Penny and Paul Loyd Center for the Academic Development of Student Athletes (ADSA), housed in the Loyd All-Sports Center.
“Nearly every SMU student benefits from the Loyd family’s generosity,” says President R. Gerald Turner. “From students enhancing their study skills and preparing for exams at the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center and the ADSA, to student athletes working out in the weight room, all in the Loyd All-Sports Center, the Loyds have enhanced the campus experience of SMU students. Now a new generation of students will enjoy living and learning in the Loyd Commons.”
The Residential Commons living-learning complex will provide housing, parking and dining facilities for 1,250 students, enabling all first- and second-year SMU students to live on campus. Each residential facility also will house a faculty residence and offices, classrooms and seminar rooms.
In addition to serving as a trustee since 2000, Mr. Loyd is a member of the executive boards for the Cox School of Business and the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development. He is co-chair of the Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Athletics and honorary chair and member of the Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Houston.
Mrs. Loyd, a civic leader and community volunteer in Houston, has worked with public and private companies both in the United States and abroad prior to the formation of the family’s charitable foundation.
The Loyds have served on the SMU Parent Leadership Council. Three of their five children are SMU graduates: Kelly Loyd ’96, Jessica Requa ’08, ’09 and Sarah Requa ’12.
The Loyd gift is the second contribution to name a Residential Commons. Liz Martin Armstrong ’82 and Bill Armstrong ’82 provided a $5 million gift for construction of the Armstrong Commons in 2011.
SMU continues to seek funding for this essential project. For more information contact Pam Conlin, assistant vice president for University Development, at 214-768-3738 or pconlin@smu.edu.