Columbia Business School has announced a $5 million gift from alumnus David E. Simon, chairman and CEO of Simon Property Group, toward construction of new facilities in the Manhattanville neighborhood north of the university's main Morningside Heights campus.

Designed by New York architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with FXFOWLE, the new buildings will encompass more than 450,000 square feet and provide multi-use spaces intended to foster a sense of community and the free exchange of ideas. Simon has served on the Columbia Business School board of overseers since 2008 and is a member of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate's MBA real estate program advisory board and Real Estate Forum.

"Columbia Business School played an integral role in helping me become an effective chief executive officer," said Simon. "The new facilities in Manhattanville offer exciting opportunities for Columbia to continue to shape the next generation of business leaders."