In 2007, Harvard University’s Law School received $25 million in donations. The contribution, made by alumnus Bruce Wasserstein, is the second largest ever made to the school.
It has largely been used to bankroll the building of a significant edifice in Harvard Law School (HLS). Set to be completed in 2011, the structure would be an ultramodern facility housing centers for students, teachers, doctors, and nurses.
In all, the building will sprawl across 250,000 square feet. It would have three concourses, including a student wing and an academic center aptly called Wasserstein Hall. The latter would effectively serve as the law school’s pedagogical center, an ideal venue to hold basic freshmen courses, seminars, and such. A large clinic is also set to rise within the building.
For these to happen, the Everett Street parking area—–an eyesore on the campus, in Dean Elena Kagan’s words—gave way to the edifice. The new structure also obliterated a dormitory, Wyeth Hall, and demolished a portion of Pound Hall to build a courtyard near Harkness Commons. Construction also forced two houses to relocate further away along Massachusetts Avenue.
Wasserstein’s gift is second only in size to that from Finn M.W. Caspersen, who gave $30 million. Caspersen chairs HLS’s $400 million capital campaign, which rose to $342 million upon Wasserstein’s contribution.
Like Caspersen, Bruce Wasserstein has a great record in generosity to Harvard University, from whose law and business schools he graduated. Together with 10 other alumni, he gifted HLS with over $5 million in 2003. He also co-created the Morris Wasserstein Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program, named after his father.
Bruce Wasserstein’s gift marks one of only a few used for constructing edifices in HLS. Others are usually made to create endowments. HLS received its last contribution for construction in 1995, from Gustave and Rita Hauser. Their $13-million donation made possible the construction of Hauser Hall, which houses faculty chambers and classrooms.
Bruce Wasserstein is the CEO of Lazard, one of the oldest and biggest financial asset management companies in the world. Forbes has ranked him one of the 400 richest American billionaires.
Sources:
http://www.lazard.com/