The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has announced an $18 million grant to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er Sheva, Israel, to fund construction of a computer science building.

The Helmsley Computer Science Building, part of the university’s North Campus development project, will bolster capacity for Ben-Gurion’s computer science department, which serves as a “key engine of future growth” at the school. The state-of-the-art facility will include office and lab space for 60 faculty members and a student center with space available for more than 2,000 students for independent learning and group projects.

“This…is a game-changer for the university, the Negev, and the State of Israel,” said Ben-Gurion University president Daniel Chamovitz. “[The] Helmsley Computer Science Building is the cornerstone of the new North Campus and will enable many and varied collaborations with industry and the development of new technologies.”

“We are committed to supporting Israel’s standing as a world leader in technology and scientific breakthroughs,” said Helmsley trustee Sandor Frankel. “[S]tudents and faculty will be better able to advance the field of computer science for Israel, further increasing the caliber of the country’s workforce and its ability to lead the world in innovation.”

(Photo credit: MYS Architects/courtesy Helmsley Trust)