Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, has announced a $20 million gift from trustee and alumnus Howard J. Trienens.

Made as part of the university's We Will campaign, the gift will support a $110 million renovation of the university's Welsh-Ryan Arena that includes construction of a state-of-the-art practice facility for basketball, volleyball, and other Wildcats athletics programs. When completed, the arena will feature a fieldhouse with three courts inside the existing Trienens Hall. The renovation also will allow for construction of larger team locker rooms for the men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball team; best-in-class athletic training and rehabilitation amenities; modern strength and conditioning facilities; team meeting rooms featuring advanced teaching technologies; an expanded performance nutrition hub; offices for the men's and women’s basketball programs; and staff locker rooms. In recognition of the gift, the facility will be named the Trienens Performance Center.

Construction is scheduled to start following the conclusion of the 2016-17 basketball season, with the venue slated to re-open in the autumn of 2018.

Howard J. Trienens is a partner at law firm Sidley Austin and a former chair of its executive committee. He joined the firm in 1949 as an associate and became a partner in 1956. Trienens received two degrees from Northwestern, a bachelor's in 1945 and a J.D. in 1949, and was editor in chief of the Illinois Law Review. In 1995, he received an honorary law degree from the university and, the following year, was awarded the Alumni Medal, its highest alumni honor. He also was the first recipient of the law school's Distinguished Alumni Award and has served on the university’s board of trustees since 1967, chairing the board from 1986 to 1995.

"Howard Trienens has been an enthusiastic supporter of Northwestern and our athletics and recreation programs for decades," said Northwestern president Morton Schapiro. "These programs — and the entire university — have benefited significantly from his guidance and generosity. We are grateful for his continued leadership and for his years of service to Northwestern."