Rendering of Lemieux Library addition
Seattle University accelerates $55 million library and learning center
Successful capital campaign allows project to move up by one year
During a celebration to publicly launch the largest capital campaign in its 117-year history, Seattle University announced today that the campaign's lead project, the $55 million transformation of its 1966 library into the Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, would break ground one year early.
"The new library is a centerpiece in the transformation of Seattle University," said SU President Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J. "We are making great progress on our goal of becoming the premier independent university of the Northwest, thanks to thousands of alumni and friends."
For the library, donations now total $24 million, within $1.5 million of triggering a $10 million matching gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The fundraising momentum is sufficient to begin groundbreaking June 2009, a year earlier than planned. The accelerated schedule will reduce inflation costs by $3 million. The new library is scheduled to go into service by fall quarter 2010.
"Support for the new library is incredible," said Anne Farrell, SU trustee, campaign co-chair and president emeritus of the Seattle Foundation. "This project will provide students and faculty with a gathering place and new digital tools for learning and sharing ideas with audiences here or anywhere in the world. We're grateful for the support, especially from Ann Wyckoff, Harold and Rita Daubenspeck and the Gates Foundation."
The groundbreaking was announced to more than 500 SU alumni and friends, including many of the region's community, education, civic and elected leaders. The library work will add 37,000 square feet to the existing 80,000-square-foot building.
The event kicked off the public phase of The Campaign for Seattle University: For the Difference We Make, a strategic package of improvements to programs, scholarships and facilities, an effort that began in 2003 and has raised more than $137 million through 46,000 gifts from alumni and friends. Because of strong support for the campaign, the overall goal was raised by $10 million to $160 million for the conclusion in June 2009.
The morning event included a presentation by Greg Mortenson, best-selling co-author of the book Three Cups of Tea, and remarks by Farrell's campaign co-chairs John Meisenbach, founder and president of MCM-A Meisenbach Company; and Jim Sinegal, president and CEO of Costco.
"I truly believe that a college education—particularly a Seattle University education—is one of the best values with the highest return," said Sinegal, who is a long-serving SU trustee. "Seattle University is an educational treasure and it contributes to the caliber of its graduates who are influencing change in profound ways, locally and globally."
The campaign aims to fuel the university's significant growth in programs, projects and learning initiatives in five key areas. They are:
Scholarships: To create permanent scholarship endowments across all schools, colleges and levels, from entering freshmen to graduate students. Financial support will allow us to continue to attract and retain students of merit and with a commitment to service in the Jesuit tradition. Scholarships will support the most gifted students and those with the greatest need. (Goal: $37 million)
Academic Excellence: To endow chairs and professorships to attract and retain outstanding scholars and to provide funds to enhance educational programs and community outreach. (Goal: $30.4 million)
Great Facilities: To enhance campus facilities, including state-of-the-art technology and teaching/learning environments in the new Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, and provide support to build SU's new fitness center. (Goal: $63.5 million)
Jesuit Catholic Identity: To provide faculty fellowships to explore and strengthen the Catholic wisdom tradition and to advance existing faith and community programs for the SU community. (Goal: $15.5 million)
Annual Gifts: To the Seattle University Fund, including contributions targeting the university's areas of greatest need in any given year. Often referred to as "margin of excellence dollars," these flexible resources help bridge the gap between annual tuition revenues and actual university costs. (Goal: $13.6 million).
Press release posted online on April 10, 2008