UNMC Receives Second Major Gift from Durham; New Research
Center To Be Named in his Honor
Omaha philanthropist Charles (Chuck) Durham, chairman of the Durham
Foundation, has made a major donation to the University of Nebraska Medical
Center believed to be the largest single gift ever received by that institution.
This marks the second major donation by Durham to UNMC, as two years ago,
he and his late wife, Margre, made one of the largest gifts ever to the
UNMC College of Medicine.
As with the Durham donation two years ago, the amount of the gift will
remain confidential. It will be used to help fund construction of the Research
Center of Excellence on the west end of the UNMC campus at 45th Street
between Dewey Avenue and Emile Street and to construct a new multi-level
parking structure on the south side of Emile Street between 44th and 45th
streets. The research center will be located on the present site of the
University Geriatric Center, which will be demolished beginning early next
year.
The donation by Durham — made through the University of Nebraska Foundation
— was accepted by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Saturday.
Construction of the $77 million, 284,000-square foot Research Center
of Excellence will begin in April 2001 with completion in 2003. When completed,
it will create a research mall on the west end of the UNMC campus, said
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D.
In addition to the Research Center of Excellence, the research mall
would include Swanson Hall, which includes several research labs, and the
Munroe-Meyer Institute, which houses the Hattie B. Munroe Center for Human
Molecular Genetics. The regents also agreed to name the research
mall and the Research Center of Excellence in honor of the Durhams.
UNMCs vision is to become a world-class academic health sciences center
and health system in partnership with Nebraska Health System, Dr. Maurer
said. The Research Center of Excellence will catapult us forward in helping
us accomplish this goal. Words cant express how grateful we are to Chuck
Durham for this incredible gift. This is a donation that over the course
of time will benefit the health of all Nebraskans by allowing our scientists
to conduct research that will truly make a difference in peoples lives.
In making the donation, Durham said, I have always been proud of the
University of Nebraska and am fortunate to be able to show my appreciation
in this way. Ive seen first-hand as a patient what an outstanding institution
UNMC has become.
Hopefully, this gift will help strengthen UNMCs programs even more,
and everyone in the state can share my same pride in the Medical Center.
Im confident this research center is the next step in UNMCs evolution
to world-class status.
Previously, the Board of Regents approved the program statement for
the Research Center of Excellence at its May meeting. Final plans for the
building should be ready to submit to the regents in December.
Dr. Maurer said: I am thrilled with the generosity of Chuck Durham
and profoundly grateful to him for this transforming gift to UNMC that
will allow us to create a research campus. He has captured our vision of
the future for the Medical Center. Chuck has told me that he believes there
is no better way to have a positive impact on our state than to support
biomedical research at UNMC. Chuck is a marvelous human being who cherishes
his ability to give as much or even more than the recipients of his generosity.
His gift should serve as a model for all medical centers.
Without a doubt, this is a defining moment for the Medical Center and
the University of Nebraska, said University of Nebraska President L. Dennis
Smith, Ph.D. This is a gift that will impact all Nebraskans for generations
to come.
Terry Fairfield, president and chief executive officer of the University
of Nebraska Foundation, said: The Durham family has been incredibly supportive
of the University of Nebraska over the years, as witnessed by the
many landmarks on university campuses that bear their name. This gift,
like their previous contributions, will advance university programs to
new levels of excellence.
No state tax dollars would be used to build the Research Center of Excellence,
but state funding would be requested for operating and maintenance expenses,
Dr. Maurer said.
The research center will include 116 research laboratories, a 225-seat
auditorium and 15 classrooms or conference rooms. Enclosed and outdoor
pedestrian walkways will link the new facility to the rest of the campus.
Dr. Maurer said the research center will enable UNMC to enhance its
research in a number of areas including cancer, cardiovascular diseases,
developmental biology, genetics and molecular genetics, neurobiology and
organ transplantation biology.
Thirty percent of UNMCs existing research space has been deemed unsuitable
by National Science Foundation standards. Laboratories in Poynter, Bennett
and Shackelford halls and the University Geriatric Center cannot accommodate
the highly technical research of UNMC scientists.
This is a monumental day for the entire state, Dr. Maurer said. Biomedical
research can be a tremendous economic driver for Nebraska, and the Research
Center of Excellence will provide the foundation for UNMC to climb to the
next level.
He said UNMC hopes to move into the top half of academic medical centers
in research supported by the National Institutes of Health. UNMC moved
from 79th to 74th in research funding among the 125 U.S. medical colleges
between 1998 and 1999.
Construction of the parking garage also is expected to begin next year.
Preliminary plans call for the multi-level structure to include at least
750 parking spaces for employees. It would be located across Emile Street
from UNMCs main parking structure for patients and visitors. More details
will be announced in the near future, Dr. Maurer said.
The Durham gift in 1998 established a permanent endowed fund at the
University of Nebraska Foundation. The Charles W. and Margre H. Durham
Excellence in Medicine Fund is used to support innovative education and
research programs in the UNMC College of Medicine in three key areas
arthritis, prostate cancer and minimally invasive surgery. In recognition
of the gift, the Outpatient Care Center on the UNMC/Nebraska Health System
campus was named the Durham Outpatient Center.
Existing University of Nebraska buildings, landmarks and programs connected
to the Durham family are the Durham Science Center, the Henningson Memorial
Campanile and the Henningson Plaza at the University of Nebraska-Omaha
and the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, Technology
and Engineering at UNO.
Durham is chairman of the board and CEO of Durham Resources. Previously,
he served as chairman and CEO of Henningson, Durham & Richardson, an
international engineering and architectural firm with work in all 50 states
and 20 foreign countries. The firm has designed more health-care facilities
than almost any other engineering/architectural company in the country.
He is a member of the UNMC Campaign Nebraska Leadership Committee.
Margre Durham, who died in 1999, was a community leader, serving on
numerous committees and boards in both an advisory and volunteer capacity.
Her community affiliations included the University of Nebraska Foundation
Campaign Nebraska Executive Committee, Bellevue University, Child Saving
Institute, Family Services, Fontenelle Forest, Joslyn Art Museum, Methodist
Hospital, Nebraska Humane Society, Salvation Army, United Way, Uta Halee
Girls Village and the YWCA. In 1999, the Durhams received the Chancellors
Distinguished Service Award from UNMC.