UC Irvine Receives $30 Million for Convergent Engineering and Science Building

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) wants to increase its output of large-scale, collaborative and cross-disciplinary research in engineering, computing and physical sciences. The institution plans to build a state-of-the-art convergent engineering and science facility with a $30 million from the Samueli Foundation.

The donation will be combined with $40 million from UCI’s funds and $50 million in state money, adding up to a total budget of $120 million for the up-to-100,000-square-foot facility, according to the announcement. Construction could begin this fall and be completed in three years.

“In our strategic plan, we promised growth that makes a difference, and we recommitted ourselves to engaging in the kind of innovative research that could drive regional entrepreneurship and economic development,” Chancellor Howard Gillman said in the statement. “This new facility is essential to accomplish these priorities, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to life.”

Gillman noted that the Samueli Foundation’s gift will serve as “a catalyst for accelerating cross-disciplinary research and scientific innovations that benefit society.” Such research ranges from developing chemical and material sensors to better diagnose and treat cancer to solving cybersecurity challenges, the statement said.

Susan and Henry Samueli.

Image Credit: UCI News.

Henry Samueli, co-founder of semiconductor corporation Broadcom and distinguished adjunct professor at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UCI, said that he and his wife, Susan, “are deeply committed to supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels along the learning pipeline, from kindergarten through higher education.”

Henry and Susan Samueli have been longtime supporters of UCI, having previously donated $20 million to the engineering school in 1999 and making other donations across UCI. In addition to its gift to UCI, the Samueli Foundation donated $20 million to the University of California, Los Angeles to support engineering undergraduate scholarships and internships.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • interconnected glowing nodes and circuits in blue and green, forming a neural network on a dark background with a futuristic design

    Tech Giants Launch $100 Billion AI Infrastructure Network Project

    OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle have unveiled a new venture, Stargate, through which they aim to build a massive AI infrastructure network across the United States. The initiative, which was announced at the White House with President Donald Trump, has been described as the "largest AI infrastructure project in history."

  • futuristic brain made of glowing circuits with a human hand reaching toward it

    Cloud Security Alliance Calls for Rethinking AI Development in the Face of DeepSeek Debut

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) has weighed in on DeepSeek AI’s disruptive debut, warning that the revolutionary AI model is “rewriting the rules” of AI development. The remarks come as cloud security firm Wiz disclosed a major data leak in DeepSeek’s platform, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities in the cutting-edge system.

  • university building surrounded by icons for AI, checklists, and data governance

    Improving AI Governance for Stronger University Compliance and Innovation

    AI can generate valuable insights for higher education institutions and it can be used to enhance the teaching process itself. The caveat is that this can only be achieved when universities adopt a strategic and proactive set of data and process management policies for their use of AI.

  • three main icons—a cloud, a user profile, and a padlock—connected by circuit lines on a blue abstract background

    Report: Identity Has Become a Critical Security Perimeter for Cloud Services

    A new threat landscape report points to new cloud vulnerabilities. According to the 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report from Fortinet, while misconfigured cloud storage buckets were once a prime vector for cybersecurity exploits, other cloud missteps are gaining focus.