Science building to be named after Simons

Simons say Simon Hall. \nWith a donation of $9 million for the construction and naming of the building formally know as the Multidisciplinary Science Building Phase I, the Simon name will now grace the campus map. Simon Hall will be the newest academic building on campus, IU announced Thursday. \nSimon Hall, a 140,000 square-foot facility designed by New York architect John Belle, will be the home of research and teaching conducted by professors in psychology, physics, biology and chemistry. \nThe building will be located just north of Myers Hall and will "only minimally disrupt the wooded areas" around the Chemistry Building and Ballantine Hall, according to a press release. It will be the first building on the Bloomington campus built specifically for the sciences since the Geological Sciences Building was erected in 1962.\nThe naming gift is from 10 members of the Simon family, three of whom are executives of Simon Property Group Inc., a real estate investment trust that owns and manages profit-making properties like shopping centers and malls.\n"Indiana has been our family's home for more than 40 years, and we are pleased to play a major role in furthering scientific excellence and research capabilities in our state through construction of this new building on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington," said David E. Simon, chief executive officer of the company, in a statement. \nIU President Adam Herbert said in a press release the new facility is necessary for IU's science fields. \n"The Simon family's remarkable vision will enable Indiana University to significantly enhance basic research on our Bloomington campus," he said. "The collaborative research facilitated by the Simons' generosity will dramatically distinguish our work in the life sciences and advance our pursuit of new knowledge."\nConstruction of the $55.7 million building is scheduled to begin June 3 with a ceremonial groundbreaking and is slated to be completed in 2007. In addition to research labs and classrooms, Simon Hall will house the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Measurement and the Johnson Center for Science and Entrepreneurship. \n"One of the important directions research is heading, in general, is the interdisciplinary approach to research," said Jim Musser, chairman of the physics department, noting the new facility will provide a home for those kinds of researchers. "For the sciences, (this facility) is extremely important. Space is limiting."\nSimon Hall is the first of three science buildings in the works for the Bloomington campus. The other two will be located near the Geological Sciences building.\nThe Simon family has also given naming gifts for the Bess Meshulam Simon Music Library and Recital Center and the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, both of which are located on the Bloomington campus.\n-- Contact staff writer Chris Jesse at cejesse@indiana.edu.