April 24, 2017

Samuelis Donate $30 Million to UCI to Create Innovative Convergent Science Building

To the Anteater community:

As UCI continues to grow and develop, it is vital that we are properly equipped to address a broad range of global challenges, working together on multidisciplinary projects that will change lives for the better. I am thrilled to announce that this mission will be amplified thanks to a transformational $30 million gift from the Samueli Foundation that will help fund a state-of-the-art convergent science and engineering building to bolster research, innovation and discovery across campus. The Samueli donation enabled UCI to obtain $50 million in state funds allocated by the UC Office of the President. An additional $40 million in campus funds brings the total project investment to $120 million.

A key component of our strategic plan is to develop appropriate programs and structures to facilitate interdisciplinary, problem-based scholarship and teaching. This includes establishing campuswide opportunities for extraordinary faculty to engage in cutting-edge research, promoting team science as an area of excellence, and constructing a physical space for this important work to flourish.

Centrally located near Frederick Reines Hall, the up-to-100,000-square-foot facility will be a focal point for the physical sciences, engineering and information & computer sciences schools and will accommodate more than 50 faculty members and hundreds of students. It will house several high-tech laboratory spaces that could be dedicated to collaborative work on health and environmental issues, for example.

Construction will begin early this fall and is expected to conclude in three years. You can read more about the new building in the news release.

By fostering cross-disciplinary research, UCI will be able to continue to drive new technologies and enhance our tradition of excellence. Together, the right partners can converge on society’s greatest needs and tackle them in extraordinary ways. We are thankful to have generous partners in Susan and Henry Samueli, who share UCI’s and California’s vision of a research center for transformative innovations in health, sustainability and other boundary-breaking fields.

Please join me in celebrating this tremendous addition to our campus that will serve as a vital hub of scientific discovery and collaboration, greatly advancing entrepreneurship and economic development in our region.

Chancellor Howard Gillman