Carnegie Mellon Receives Million Dollar Gifts for Expansion Projects

December 18, 2013 1576 Views CLASS, Early Childhood Risk and Reach in Louisiana, Eastern U.S., Fernandez & Johnson Architects, Headstart, LEED for Existing Buildings, LSU/Tulane Early Childhood Policy and Data Center, Spence Fisher, Teaching Strategies GOLD

PITTSBURGH — Since November, Carnegie Mellon University has received two generous gifts for renovations and expansions totaling nearly $80 million. These financial investments will change the face of the Pittsburgh campus, and create expanded educational opportunities for Carnegie Mellon students.

The Heinz Endowments’ $10 million gift will be dedicated to the renovation and expansion of Hamburg Hall, which houses the H. John Heinz III College of Public Policy and Management. Though the college has already embarked on $32 million in renovations to the existing structure, the Heinz Endowments gift will hasten the design, planning and construction process for the planned rotunda, 150-seat auditorium, collaborative spaces and additional classrooms. The project comprises four phases, the third of which is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2017. No timeline for the final phase has been released.

"We are deeply grateful to the Endowments and the Heinz family for providing this transformational gift,” said CMU President Subra Suresh in an official statement. "In a world that is evermore connected and increasingly dependent on information technology and organizational solutions, which cross political, disciplinary and cultural boundaries, Heinz College faculty and graduates are making essential contributions."

Not far from the H. John Heinz III College building, will be the new Tepper Quadrangle along Forbes Avenue. The new academic hub, named for Appaloosa Management founder and CMU trustee David A. Tepper, was announced just a month before the Heinz Endowments gift.

The Tepper Quadrangle is the first expansion of the university’s north campus. According to a statement, the new structure will also enable the university to leverage its business, science and engineering departments to accelerate the transfer of new technologies into the marketplace, create new integrated degree programs and to expand both research and education opportunities. In addition to its educational functions, the facility will also include a welcome center, fitness center and café. In total the university plans to invest more than $200 million in the new facility.

The college is currently seeking architect proposals for the new structure, which is estimated at 295,000 square feet. The ambitious building currently has no estimated construction or completion date.

"I’m excited by President Suresh’s and the university’s vision to make CMU the foremost entrepreneurial academic institution in the nation," said Tepper in a release. "CMU has a long history of providing the world with innovative thinkers, and the establishment of a true hub for entrepreneurship will help create the next generation of global leaders.”

Over the past decade, Tepper has donated more than $125 million to Carnegie Mellon, his alma mater, and the campus is already home to the Tepper School of Business. According to a release issued by the college, this latest gift is the largest from a CMU graduate, and for a building project, in the university’s history.