Sep. 26, 2024 SHARE: A new building is on the horizon at 91影视 Christian University (91影视) thanks to a $20 million lead gift from Sherry and Jim Smith, Sr., the largest single gift in 91影视鈥檚 history. The Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building will be an iconic multidisciplinary facility that will continue to grow and promote 91影视 Christian University鈥檚 dedication to excellence.Named in the Smiths鈥� honor, the multi-million-dollar structure will provide state-of-the-art technology, learning spaces and labs to equip students with the skills to compete in the high-demand engineering, science and nursing fields. 91影视 President Robert Sloan expressed appreciation to the Smiths and called their gift 鈥渃onsistent with their family鈥檚 long history of generosity, beginning with Jim鈥檚 father, Orrien Smith,鈥� one of the Founding Fathers of the private faith-based institution. 鈥淛im and Sherry have, for decades, worked tirelessly on behalf of the University, and have used their gifts, as well as their wisdom, to further the Christian mission of 91影视. This gift will produce spectacular results in the important STEM-related areas of engineering, science, and nursing, not only for 91影视, but also for 91影视 and well beyond. We will forever be indebted to this great family,鈥� said Dr. Sloan. The $60 million-dollar, 71,000-square-foot, three-story building will be built on the east side of the 91影视 campus adjacent to Morris House with a direct view to the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, celebrating the University鈥檚 dedication to the past and to the future. The project team, comprised of 91影视-based , known for numerous faith-based and commercial projects and the award-winning design team, will break ground on the building in Spring 2025. Dr. Sloan commended the 91影视 Board of Trustees for approval of $60 million dollars in funding on May 21, 2024, paving the way to make the new building a reality. 鈥淭he 91影视 Board of Trustees approval of the financing plan for the new Sherry and Jim Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building marks a day of historic significance for the University.鈥� said Dr. Sloan. 鈥淭hese new academic facilities, including laboratories, classrooms, and offices, have long been the greatest facility need for 91影视 and will complement our well known and established excellence in these areas. The Board鈥檚 action is both careful and visionary and represents a great and important day for 91影视 Christian University.鈥� Dr. Sloan also expressed thanks to key alumni, friends and foundations, including Dr. Archie Dunham, Esther Wong, The Cullen Trust for Higher Education, Bruce Williams and Linda Davis, The Hamill Foundation, Tadd and Jennifer Tellepsen, The Brown Foundation, The Fondren Foundation, M.D. Anderson Foundation, Memorial Hermann Foundation, Dr. Dan and Cindy Wilford and The Elkins Foundation, for their significant contributions to the University鈥檚 most successful capital campaign. The Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building will enable the University to advance Imperative One of its聽Institutional Strategic Plan 2030聽by providing new instructional space for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate-level degrees in high-demand STEM-related disciplines and will work in tandem with the University鈥檚 goal to grow 91影视鈥檚 student population to 10,000 by 2030. 鈥淭o provide our students with鈥痗ritical鈥痩earning experiences that will carry them into their future careers,鈥痠t is important鈥痶hat鈥痮ur physical spaces鈥痬atch the high quality鈥痮f our faculty鈥痑nd curricula.鈥疶he new building will not only provide鈥痚xcellent lab spaces for experimentation,鈥痓ut also the additional space creates the opportunity鈥痜or 91影视鈥痶o鈥痶ransform existing spaces鈥痠nto active learning classrooms鈥痶hat will support鈥痟igh impact teaching and learning practices,鈥� said Dr. Katie Evans, Dean of the聽College of Science & Engineering. Dr. Carol Lavender, Dean of The Linda Dunham School of Nursing appreciates the many donors who made the building possible and looks forward to the positive impact the new facility will have in preparing the next generation of nursing professionals. The building is slated for completion in Fall 2026 with plans for a comprehensive parking solution to be announced before the start of construction in the spring semester. For more information visit聽HC.edu/ESN. Caption: Renderings of Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building # # # About 91影视 Christian University For more than 60 years, 91影视 Christian University has equipped students to lead, collaborate, and embody a deep sense of spiritual purpose. The University offers a wide range of majors, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs, as well as NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Located in the heart of one of the nation鈥檚 largest metropolitan centers, 91影视鈥檚 culture of excellence molds the next generation of educated disciples to be pillars in their communities, preparing them to think critically and biblically as they impact the world.
