A former student union building in Glasgow will be turned into a digital, entrepreneurial and social engagement hub after a £30 million contribution from a former alumnus.
The project to change the old University of Strathclyde building on John Street has been made possible because of the help of Dr Charles Huang.
The building will be named the Charles Huang Advanced Technology & Innovation Centre (CHATIC) in honour of the global business leader and founder of private equity firm Pasaca Capital INC.
The contribution is part of a larger £50m donation he made through his foundation to Strathclyde in 2021.
That remained the University’s largest ever philanthropic gift and now CHATIC will provide additional research facilities.
Situation in the heart of Glasgow City Innovation District, the building will help advance health technologies, 5G communications, industrial AI, FinTech, quantum technologies and space research, alongside housing an innovation & entrepreneurship hub and a social innovation hub.
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CHATIC will also offer space for businesses to co-locate within the university to create a critical mass of companies, innovation support organisations, cutting edge research and community engagement facilities that will help deliver increased social end economic impact.
The building has been empty since Strathclyde Union moved to its new home on Richmond Street in 2021, and the refurbishment is expected to be completed in 2026.
The 10-storey building was originally built in 1959 and the changes will allow them to retain a building which holds many memories for Glaswegians and allow it to continue contributing to the city.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde, said: “I am delighted that CHATIC will facilitate new opportunities to: partner and innovate with industry; enhance research capabilities by actively developing our research leaders of the future; grow entrepreneurial and social innovation opportunities open to staff, students and the wider community; and, it will create opportunities for our students to engage with industry research partners.
“We are hugely grateful to Charles for his very generous contribution to this project and are delighted to recognise this through the naming of the new building.”
The £50m donation from Dr Huang has also helped create the Stephen Young Institute for International business, funded two professional chairs in the institute and supported the establishment of the Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards and The Stephen Young Global Leaders Scholarship Programme.
Lina Tullberg, CEO of the Charles Huang Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to see our donation to the University of Strathclyde come to fruition and meet with Dr Charles Huang’s original objectives. The CHATIC is the last piece of the programmes funded by the donation, with the other elements progressing well.”
The development of CHATIC will complement a number of other projects within Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) – including Love Loan and Candleriggs Square.
GCID has been held up as an exemplar in the sector and was recognised in the UK Government’s 2020 R&D roadmap.
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