David E. Simon ’85, chairman and CEO of Simon Property Group and a member of the School’s Board of Overseers, has pledged a gift of $5 million to Columbia Business School.
Simon’s donation will be used to support the construction of the School’s new facilities in Manhattanville, just north of Columbia’s Morningside Campus. The buildings, designed by renowned New York architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with FXFOWLE, will encompass more than 450,000 square feet, offering multifunctional spaces that foster a sense of community and the free exchange of ideas.
“Columbia Business School played an integral role in helping me become an effective Chief Executive Officer,” Simon said. “The new facilities in Manhattanville offer exciting opportunities for Columbia to continue to shape the next generation of business leaders.”
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry. The Company currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising approximately 241 million square feet.
Simon is an active member of the Columbia Business School community and has served on the Board of Overseers since 2008. He is also a member of the board’s Campaign Executive Committee, as well as the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate’s MBA Real Estate Program Advisory Board and Real Estate Forum. Simon has shared his experiences and expertise with students on several occasions, delivering the keynote address at the Milstein Center’s 2012 Real Estate Symposium and speaking during the Silfen Leadership Series in 2008.
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