$35 million gift from Joseph and Linda Chlapaty will create a new university complex designed to anchor school’s future in science, technology, and forward-thinking education
The University of Dubuque marked a milestone with the groundbreaking of the Chlapaty Center for Innovation, a striking new complex designed to anchor the school’s future in science, technology, and forward-thinking education.
Planned as a 75,000-square-foot, five-story facility, the center will house state-of-the-art engineering laboratories, flexible classrooms, and collaborative arenas meant to inspire creativity and entrepreneurial problem-solving.
When it opens in 2028, the building is expected to be a hub where students and faculty converge on ideas that push beyond the boundaries of conventional learning, setting a new standard for how a regional university can drive innovation.
At the heart of the celebration was the remarkable generosity of Joseph and Linda Chlapaty, whose $35 million gift made the project possible.
Their donation is among the largest in the university’s history and represents the couple’s long-standing commitment to shaping the institution’s trajectory. For decades, the Chlapatys have been among the University of Dubuque’s most devoted supporters, helping to fund scholarships, improve campus facilities, and invest in academic excellence.
This latest act of giving builds on a legacy of philanthropy that has touched nearly every corner of the university, from athletics and student life to academic programs and community initiatives.
University leaders described the new center not just as a physical structure, but as a symbol of the Chlapatys’ belief in education’s transformative power.
Their contributions have consistently been directed toward projects that open doors for future generations, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have access to opportunities that prepare them for leadership and service.
The $35 million gift, part of the school’s broader $150 million Momentum Campaign, embodies this vision by advancing resources that will foster ingenuity, collaboration, and real-world impact.
As shovels broke ground, the day carried the weight of history in motion. The Chlapatys’ generosity has long been intertwined with the University of Dubuque’s upward journey, but today’s moment underscored how philanthropy can define an institution’s future.
With the Chlapaty Center for Innovation, the university is not only erecting a landmark building, but also cementing the enduring influence of donors whose faith in education continues to ripple outward, shaping lives, careers, and communities far beyond campus.