News / The University of Bristol
Record-breaking £20m gift donated to University of Bristol by single donor
A record-breaking £20m gift has been donated to the University of Bristol by alumnus Hugh Sloane.
It is the largest gift ever received by the institution from an individual donor and has prompted the university to name a major new facility after him.
The main building at its Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, which has recently been completed, will now be known as the Sloane Robinson Building.
Sited next to Temple Meads station, it takes its name from the charitable foundation Sloane founded with his business partner George Robinson and which supports a range of educational projects.
Sloane, who graduated in 1977 with a degree in economics and politics, made an initial £10m gift in 2017.
That in itself broke the record for the largest donation in the university’s history, a record which Sloane has beaten again by pledging another £10m since.
The donations have helped make possible the £500m campus and its 38,000sq m main building, which is due to open in September.
Sloane said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a world class academic campus right in the heart of a city and next to Brunel’s iconic Temple Meads station.
“The cutting-edge interdisciplinary programmes at Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus will draw in the best and brightest minds from across the world, and the economic and civic legacy of this landmark development will resonate far beyond the university, both for Bristol and for the UK.”
Vice chancellor Evelyn Welch said: “I am delighted to announce the naming of the Sloane Robinson Building and want to thank Hugh Sloane and the Sloane Robinson Foundation for their tremendous generosity and support.
“Without them our vision for this new campus would not have become a reality.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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