Indiana University in Bloomington has announced a $9 million pledge toward construction of a life sciences building from the Simon family, one of the leading philanthropic families in the state. In honor of their gift, the new facility will be named Simon Hall.

The gift from Melvin and Bren Simon, Herbert and Bui Simon, David E. and Jackie Simon, Deborah J. Simon, and Cynthia Simon Skjodt and Paul Skjodt will support construction of a $55.7 million, 140,000-square-foot facility that will house researchers in chemistry, biology, psychology, and physics. Melvin and Herbert Simon are co-chairs and David Simon is chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, Inc., an S&P 500 company that owns and manages regional malls and community shopping centers throughout the country. Construction on the new center is scheduled to begin in June and to be completed in 2007.

"Through the Simon family's generosity, Simon Hall will become the reality the college needs it to be, a cutting edge multidisciplinary facility," said Kumble R. Subbaswamy, dean of the college of arts and sciences. "This building will be a unifying hub for fundamental research in sciences, and discoveries there will provide the basis for new applied clinical research."