SLU Celebrates Sinquefields and Research at Building Dedication Ceremony

03/20/2025

Saint Louis University’s hub for science and innovation on campus has a new name — the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center. 

Celebrating the generosity and dedication of donors Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, the former Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building was officially renamed the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center during a dedication ceremony Tuesday afternoon. 

In 2018, the Sinquefields donated a record $50 million to SLU. The historic gift was intended to grow the scale and eminence of SLU’s research and scholarship, said Shelia Manion, vice president for development. 

It did just that.

“Jeanne and Rex, the gift you gave SLU in 2018 has transformed this institution,” said Provost Michael Lewis, Ph.D. 

Lewis reflected on how  Saint Louis University has evolved since that time.  With the gift, SLU has been able to attract and retain many of its talented faculty members, Lewis said. 

“People want to be part of success and SLU is much a greater success because of your gift,” Lewis said. 

Ellen Barnidge, Ph.D., SLU’s interim vice president for research, said researchers who have been recruited and retained with the Sinquefields’ gift have contributed $30 million in external research funding in just three years. Those same researchers have published 20 books and have made numerous academic presentations. 

“These accomplishments occur because Rex and Jeanne understand that research and discovery are at the heart of higher education,” Barnidge said. 

Saint Louis University announced plans in 2018 to construct the building now christened the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center. The 90,000-square-foot, three-story structure, which opened in 2020, houses teaching-lab spaces, research spaces, classrooms, collaboration spaces, and more. Barnidge said renaming the space after the Sinquefields was a natural fit.

“The building we are standing in now was designed to attract people with its natural light and collaboration spaces. However, the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center goes beyond the physical space by attracting researchers and students who desire to test hypotheses, advance technologies and achieve scientific discovery,” Barnidge said. “A center like this one attracts people who strive for excellence.” 

SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., presented the Sinquefields with a photograph of the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center with its new name on the facade. He thanked them for their generosity and friendship. 

“We named this building today certainly for your generosity and what you have done for science and research, but also for who you are as people, for what you have done for this community, for what you have done for this University, and for what you have done for all of us,” Pestello said. 

Jeanne Sinquefield also used the ceremony to celebrate SLU’s recent attainment of the “R1” designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. 

“We got R1 in February — that is a huge, huge deal,” she said. 

Jeanne Sinquefield said the key to the gift’s success was trusting that researchers would have the best ideas for worthwhile initiatives. Rather than decide themselves, she and Rex instead put that question to SLU’s faculty.

This approach led to SLU’s Big Idea program, which helped launch SLU initiatives like SLU/YouGov Poll and the WATER Institute.

“We’re giving the money, but this would not have happened without the faculty and staff getting excited,” Jeanne Sinquefield said. 

Rex Sinquefield, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, praised SLU for the work it has done since the donation and said he was excited about what comes next. 

“I look forward to seeing what great research is produced here,” Rex Sinquefield said.