Longtime philanthropists Charles and Lisa Simonyi have given a on the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Seattle campus a major boost with a $5 million gift.
The architect of Word and other core Microsoft programs and the founder of , is an innovator and philanthropist who has pushed the boundaries of technology and space travel. , who holds degrees in corporate communication and international management, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who serves on the boards of multiple civic and cultural organizations, including the 黑料吃瓜网 Foundation Board. The couple鈥檚 gift will help fund construction of a new 135,000-square-foot building that will provide space for the 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Computer Science & Engineering to double the number annual degrees it awards.
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A major feature of the new building will be spaces designed to give undergraduate students a strong sense of belonging and purpose. The most prominent of these spaces will be a 鈥渉ome away from home鈥� for CSE majors on the east end of the main floor. This space where students will be able to study and collaborate will be named the Charles & Lisa Simonyi Undergraduate Commons in recognition of the couple鈥檚 generous support.
鈥淚nnovation is at its best when it includes a variety of insights and perspectives, and this generous gift will provide a space where our students can gather to share ideas and begin the next wave of discovery in the world of computer science,鈥� 黑料吃瓜网 President said. 鈥淚 want to thank Charles and Lisa Simonyi for their investment, which will help provide an enriched student experience and better position the 黑料吃瓜网 to meet the region鈥檚 workforce demands.鈥�
鈥淭he need for more computer scientists and computer engineers in the Puget Sound region to build on the legacy of innovation here is well known, and this new building will help the 黑料吃瓜网 meet that need,鈥� said Charles and Lisa Simonyi. 鈥淲e are pleased to support this expansion of the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 CSE program and are excited to see what new ideas and opportunities for collaboration will be inspired by the commons space.鈥�
黑料吃瓜网 CSE is raising $110 million from public and private sources for a second building to complement the and dramatically enhance the department鈥檚 ability to serve Washington鈥檚 students and employers. At a time when companies are clamoring for qualified employees, two-thirds of qualified 黑料吃瓜网 students seeking to pursue computer science or computer engineering degrees are being turned away for lack of space.
In addition, students in all fields recognize the value of computer science knowledge in today鈥檚 technology-driven economy. Demand for 黑料吃瓜网 CSE鈥檚 introductory courses is booming, with total enrollment surpassing 5,000 in the most recent year.
In addition to the Charles & Lisa Simonyi Undergraduate Commons, key elements of the new CSE building include the 250-seat Amazon Auditorium, a flexible event space to be known as the Zillow Commons, a sophisticated maker space, workspaces for computer animation and other capstone projects, a 3,000-square-foot robotics lab, and the Microsoft Caf茅, which will serve as an interaction hub for all 黑料吃瓜网 Engineering programs located in that part of campus.
The building, which broke ground last month, is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and ready for occupancy in early 2019.
鈥淓xpanding access to computer science capacity is not only important to students looking to take part in the digital economy, but to every single employer in this state,鈥� said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft and leader of the CSE campaign committee. 鈥淲e hope that commitments such as the Simonyis’ gift will continue to inspire others to support this project, which is so vital to the future of Washington state.鈥�
For more information, contact Ed Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science & Engineering, at lazowska@uw.edu.