Southwestern University has received a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor to support the strategic renovation of the Fine Arts Building. This investment will advance a comprehensive transformation of the facility, enhancing core building systems, reimagining creative spaces, and aligning the environment with the evolving needs of interdisciplinary fine arts education.

“We are deeply grateful for this transformative gift and the generosity behind it,” President Laura Skandera Trombley said. “Investments like this allow us to align our spaces with our academic vision and ensure that Southwestern continues to offer an environment where our students can thrive.”

“Our heartfelt thanks go to our donors for their vision and commitment,” Vice President for University Relations Marie Muhvic said. “This investment marks a significant moment for the Fine Arts Building and the students who bring it to life each day. As one of the few undergraduate liberal arts institutions with a dedicated school of fine arts, we believe deeply in the power of creative expression as a foundational pillar of a Southwestern education. For generations, the Fine Arts Building has been a vibrant home for creativity, collaboration, and discovery, a place where students gather not only to study, but to explore new ways of thinking and making. This gift comes at a truly pivotal time, allowing us to honor that legacy while thoughtfully designing a space that meets the evolving needs of today’s engaged, imaginative learners. It is both a celebration of what this building has meant to our community and a bold step toward what it will become.”

The Fine Arts Building, home to the Sarofim School of Fine Arts, will undergo a comprehensive revitalization to support the next generation of creative work at Southwestern. Planned improvements will enhance building systems and accessibility while reimagining studios, rehearsal spaces, and outdoor areas to better support artistic practice, performance, and collaboration.

At the same time, the University is defining the academic future the building will support. Leadership and faculty are advancing a new academic strategic plan that will guide the evolution of curriculum, graduate pathways, certificates, and academic partnerships.

This plan will directly shape how the Fine Arts Building is transformed, ensuring that updates are driven not only by infrastructure needs, but by a clear vision for interdisciplinary collaboration, creative practice, and student experience. The academic strategic plan is a key component of Southwestern’s new Tactical Plan, set to launch in Fall 2026.