Colby College has received a record-breaking $150 million donation to launch a transformational expansion in science and technology, the largest gift in college history and one of the largest ever to a liberal arts college, according to the college’s news release.
The donation is the lead commitment to a planned $500 million investment, with a focus on building a $300 million science complex that will transform the school’s science curriculum and research programs. The building opens in 2030 and will be a new hub for research, teaching, and collaboration.
Spanning roughly 200,000 square feet, the complex will house modern teaching and research laboratories, faculty offices, classrooms, fabrication labs, and advanced computing resources. Colby officials said the design will encourage collaboration by bringing together researchers across scientific disciplines and equipping shared spaces with specialized technology.
The project will also allow Colby to add applied sciences and engineering for the first time. New majors are anticipated in biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, materials engineering, and public health, alongside new additions in data science, computational biology, and marine science. Combining liberal arts traditions with cutting-edge scientific training, the college is aiming to equip graduates to lead changing fields.
These investments will allow us to move that work to another level, so that science education and the application of scientific knowledge are serving Maine’s needs, ” said Colby President David A. Greene. “It is significant, too, as it allows Colby to be on the leading edge of preparing future generations of science and technology leaders.”.
Across the country, universities and colleges are expanding their science departments to address real-world challenges and develop practical solutions
Colby College New Science Complex: Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Total Investment: $500 million
Lead Gift: $150 million (record-setting donation, largest in college history)
Expected Opening: 2030
Facility Specifications
Total Area: 200,000 square feet
Construction Cost: $300 million
Facility Type: Multi-disciplinary science complex
Key Features
Modern teaching and research laboratories
Faculty offices and classrooms
Fabrication laboratories
Advanced computing resources
Collaborative shared spaces with specialized technology
Cross-disciplinary research environments
Academic Programs
New Programs (First-time offerings)
Biomedical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Materials Engineering
Public Health
