Leinweber Foundation gives $25 million to build U-M Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building

In recognition of the donation, the Board of Regents voted on Oct. 21 to name the building the Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building. This gift will bring the Computer Science and Engineering Division (CSE) of Michigan Engineering and the School of Information (UMSI) together under one roof at U‑M for the first time, strengthening the collaboration between the two disciplines to develop breakthrough technologies, conduct innovative research, and facilitate an innovative learning environment for students.

Computer, data, and information science are quickly becoming the backbone of systems that connect society. Creating a space where top scholars in computing and information can come together to help solve some of the greatest challenges in modern medicine, transportation, smart infrastructure, and more, will help Michigan remain at the forefront of advances in computer science and information.

“Michigan has a longstanding reputation as one of the leaders and best in computer science and information,” said Larry Leinweber. “We hope this new gift will further advance both of these fields and amplify U‑M’s impact by bringing some of the brightest minds in engineering and information science together in one collaborative setting.” 

Michigan Engineering and UMSI have a long history of transformative collaboration. Michigan’s legacy of leadership in computing and information dates back to the 1950s when its graduate degree in computing was established, making it one of the oldest computing programs in the nation. Today, Michigan continues to be on the cutting edge of advances in artificial intelligence, device architecture, human-computer interaction, social networks, quantum computing, data analysis, and more. 

In the last 10 years, the number of students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs in both CSE and UMSI has quadrupled, and the new building will provide much needed space to meet the increasing demand for computer science and information graduates for research, industry, and education. 

“The Leinweber Foundation gift is a tremendous example of U‑M’s ability to unite philanthropy and multidisciplinary strength in the service of our students and innovative research that keeps us on the forefront of discovery,” said U‑M President Mark Schlissel.

The Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building

Currently, Michigan Engineering and UMSI are located on different campuses a few miles apart, but the new $145 million facility will house UMSI in its entirety and expand space for CSE beyond its current home in the neighboring Bob and Betty Beyster Building. Furthermore, it will help attract the top talent for aspiring computer science and information scholars.

The new facility will serve as a hub for computer science and information students, with flexible classrooms and the latest technology, open spaces for group learning opportunities, collaboration spaces, labs, and more. The Regents are expected to review construction plans for the building later this year.

“Co-location is essential to seed and sustain high impact interdisciplinary work,” said Thomas Finholt, dean of the School of Information. “By joining faculty and students from multiple disciplinary backgrounds in one place, we will accelerate, enrich, and increase the boundary-spanning interactions that produce innovative paths of research. Thanks to the gift from the Leinweber Foundation, we’ll be better able to solve the problems of the future by combining insights across disciplines in new ways.”

The new Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building will eliminate the need for top talent to choose between working in a CSE environment or a UMSI environment across town, thereby removing barriers between like-minded colleagues. This convergence of disciplines will also strengthen the academic culture, promoting the fusion of human-centered and technical perspectives to critical areas such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and machine learning. 

“Technology is becoming more dependent on information—our products are getting smarter and require programming that is human-focused and free from bias,” said Alec Gallimore, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, the Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Professor, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, and a professor of aerospace engineering. “By bringing these important fields into collaboration, this incredible investment from the Leinweber Foundation will help Michigan remain not only a topflight university, but one that draws upon a range of disciplines and perspectives to ensure that the innovation closes societal gaps and has a positive impact on all populations.” 

In addition, the new building will play a key role in the university’s mission toward carbon neutrality. The university plans a phased campus-wide transition to geothermal heating and cooling systems, beginning with this new building. 

About the donors

Since 2010, Larry Leinweber and his wife Claudia Babiarz have supported students and programs at U‑M, including in Michigan Engineering, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), the Medical School, and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. They created the Leinweber Software Scholars Program at Michigan Engineering in 2013, and established the Leinweber Center for Theoretical Physics in LSA in 2017. 

Leinweber founded and served as CEO of New World Systems Corporation in Troy, Michigan, a software company providing enterprise resource planning software for city and county governments, with a primary focus on public safety software for 911 dispatch centers, law enforcement, fire departments, and paramedics. Babiarz served as corporate counsel at New World Systems for over 27 years.

Leinweber and Babiarz have two children, David Leinweber (U‑M MBA) and Ashley Leinweber (U‑M MBA). Ashley serves as vice president of the Leinweber Foundation. David serves on the advisory board for CSE in Michigan Engineering and is the CEO of Ascent Cloud, a Detroit-based sales technology software company. David’s wife, Jessica Leinweber (U‑M BA and JD), serves as executive director of the Leinweber Foundation. Larry’s other three children, Eric, Danica, and Lezlee, also contribute to his work.

For more information on the Leinweber Foundation, please visit www.LeinweberFoundation.org.