$105 million in alumni gifts to university from Peter Kellner, Jean-Pierre L. Conte, Becky and Christopher Hurley, Robert Fox, and Stephen Sprague fuels transformative student housing project

Colgate University has secured $105 million in alumni gifts to fuel a transformative student housing project along Broad Street, a sweeping expansion designed to redefine upper-class residential life. At the heart of this effort are six alumni donors whose commitments anchor the vision.

The largest gift came from financier Peter Kellner, whose $50 million pledge set a new record for the university at the time. Private-equity executive Jean-Pierre L. Conte contributed $25 million to establish the Social Center, which will serve as the district’s heart.

Becky and Christopher Hurley, Robert Fox, and Stephen Sprague each committed $10 million, giving the university the foundation to begin shaping a neighborhood that blends housing, study spaces, and shared venues into one cohesive community.

The new district will gather scattered residences into an intentional, walkable neighborhood designed for juniors and seniors.

Early plans include Fox House, Hurley House, and paired North and South Houses connected to the Conte Social Center.

The layout is organized around a pedestrian walkway and a green commons, with study buildings to support academic life. Renovations of Greek and theme houses will run in parallel, with the broader aim of ensuring every senior a private room and expanding single options for juniors.

Designers Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates are shaping the architecture and landscape, emphasizing traditional materials, natural light, and inviting outdoor spaces that extend student life beyond dorm walls.

University leadership views the housing initiative not just as a building project but as an academic investment, positioning Colgate to offer one of the strongest residential liberal arts experiences in the country. Conte described his naming gift as a commitment to creating a space where students of all backgrounds can come together.

The fundraising momentum has already grown beyond the initial $105 million, with Kellner increasing his commitment and overall gifts for the project surpassing $115 million.

That trajectory signals that the housing district may expand further as support continues. For a university that has already reshaped first- and second-year residential life, this effort is about extending the same sense of intentional community into the final years of college.

The alumni contributions provide not only with the financial foundation but also a symbolic vote of confidence in Colgate’s vision for the future.