A gift from Northwestern Trustee Steven A. Cahillane ’87 and Tracy Tappan Cahillane ’88 is kickstarting the renovation of the Donald P. Jacobs Center into a hub for research, learning and student activity on the Evanston campus. The new facility supports the University’s strategic priorities by expanding Northwestern’s capacity to innovate in the social sciences and global studies.
Located in the heart of campus on Sheridan Road, the Jacobs Center was built in phases between 1972 and 2001 and previously housed the Kellogg School of Management. The renovation will transform the interior of the building and significantly enhance the surrounding grounds. Construction will begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2026.
The renovated building will be the new home of the Northwestern Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs; the School of Education and Social Policy; the Institute for Policy Research; and several departments within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, including anthropology, linguistics, political science and sociology. Additionally, the Weinberg College Center for International and Area Studies and Weinberg College’s Program in Global Health Studies will be based there.
Bringing these exciting intellectual areas together will generate distinct hubs for research in the social sciences, policy and global affairs, bolstering opportunities for innovative partnerships and discoveries across schools and disciplines.
“Northwestern is committed to finding solutions to society’s most pressing issues through interdisciplinary research, and this initiative furthers our efforts to foster greater collaboration within the social sciences, education and global studies,” Provost Kathleen Hagerty says. “Having so many world-class scholars in the same space will create natural connections that never before would have been possible and will lead to exciting new research endeavors.”
Once complete, the building will serve more than 1,000 faculty, staff and students on a daily basis. It will feature numerous classrooms of varying sizes, along with meeting and seminar rooms, lab spaces, faculty offices and dining areas. There also will be spaces for student services and programming, scholarly talks and other learning opportunities. Each floor will offer open seating areas where students and faculty can gather.
A new large gathering space will open onto Deering Meadow and serve as a student lounge, event space, and flexible lecture and seminar room.
“Tracy and I are delighted to make this gift that will help enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and the student experience,” Steve Cahillane says.
The first floor will have a multipurpose space that can host events for up to 150 people or serve as a student lounge; the space will open onto a new terrace overlooking Deering Meadow — it is one of several outdoor gathering areas planned as part of new landscaping surrounding the building. In recognition of the Cahillane family’s gift, the multipurpose space and outdoor terrace will be named for them.
“Steve and I love Northwestern,” Tracy Cahillane says. “We met on campus as undergraduates, and it changed our lives. It is such a special institution, and we are grateful to be able to help the students of today and tomorrow benefit from a Northwestern experience.”
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