The largest single gift in Northern Illinois University history will close a funding gap for a planned $87 million health care education center scheduled to be built starting in 2026, the university announced.
The Baustadt Family Foundation will donate $40 million, a “transformative gift that will directly support the development of NIU’s future health professions education and interdisciplinary research hub,” NIU said in a news release. mentioned in.
The new center, called the Baustart-Burwell Health Technology Center, will be built between NIU’s main and west campuses at the northwest corner of Lucinda Avenue and Annie Glidden Road, according to the university’s website. It is said that there are plans to do so. This location is the current location of Lincoln Residence Hall, which is scheduled to be demolished in 2025.
The Illinois Capital Development Commission earmarked $77 million for the project, $7.7 million of which was spent on planning and design efforts that began in 2022. Construction costs are estimated at $87 million.
NIU is where my parents met and started their life together. This gift combines the needs of NIU with the interests of our family. This is the culmination of my parents’ legacy in the medical device industry and support for education and research. NIU’s Health Technology Center plan was a perfect fit for us. ”
— Jeff Baustad, son of James and Theo, Baustad Family Foundation spokesperson
The center will house a community health clinic and provide a one-stop community health resource for audiology, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. Research, education and innovation space with state-of-the-art laboratory, research and simulation facilities. Student and faculty spaces designed to foster collaboration.
Study spaces, break areas, student lounges, grab-and-go cafes, faculty and dean suites, as well as seminar rooms, medium-sized classrooms for 35 to 70 students, and large classrooms for up to 150 students. A classroom will also be set up. , lecture and event spaces, etc.
A gift from James and Theo (Burwell) Baustad through the Baustad Family Foundation includes $10 million to cover the difference in construction costs. $14 million for future program development, including technology, faculty endowments, and student scholarship acquisition. The $14 million is being held in the Restricted Facilities Endowment Maintenance Fund, according to a news release. The remaining $2 million will be earmarked for the Northern Fund, which supports new projects at the university.
NIU President Lisa Freeman said she was left speechless by the $40 million gift. She said she is extremely grateful for how this gift will enrich the students attending NIU, the university itself, and the community.
“To me, the adjective that best describes this gift is transformative,” Freeman said. “This is a tremendous vote of confidence for the university, and this Health Technology Center initiative is one that will impact all universities.”
James Baustert co-founded Cardiac Pacemakers Inc., a St. Paul, Minn.-based manufacturer of implantable cardiac rhythm management devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators, in 1971. The company was acquired by Eli Lilly in 1978 and is now a subsidiary of Eli Lilly. Boston Scientific Company.
“NIU is where my parents met and started their lives together,” said Jeff Baustad, son of James and Theo and spokesperson for the Baustad Family Foundation. “This gift combines the needs of NIU with the interests of our family. It is the culmination of my parents’ legacy in the medical device industry and support for education and research. NIU’s Health Technology Center plans It was perfect for us.”
Freeman said she hopes the center will encourage students to attend NIU so that they are better prepared for their career fields when they graduate from college.
She also said she is excited to see how the center will foster collaboration between multiple universities.
“(The center) provides an incredible opportunity for students, faculty and staff to become leaders in health care delivery and outcomes,” Professor Freeman said. “This gift will allow us to do a lot, not just in terms of new buildings, but in terms of programming.”
