Hobart and William Smith Colleges have announced a $25 million donation from alumna Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish and John F. Fish to support the construction of a new integrated science center.
The facility, set to be named The Fish Center for the Sciences, will serve as a hub for STEM education and interdisciplinary collaboration on campus.
The 40,000-square-foot building will be located on the south side of the Hobart Quad, adjacent to Rosenberg and Napier Halls. The design will draw architectural inspiration from historic campus buildings such as Coxe, Medbery, and Williams Halls. The interior will feature four floors of classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and spaces for advanced scientific instrumentation and equipment.
The project is part of Further Together: The Campaign for Our Third Century, a fundraising initiative aimed at advancing key academic priorities. To date, $32.5 million of the estimated $53 million needed for the facility has been raised, with an additional $6 million committed for ongoing operations and maintenance endowment funds.
The construction will be led by Suffolk Construction, a Boston-based firm specializing in complex facilities, including higher education science buildings. John Fish, the company’s founder, chairman, and CEO, has been closely involved in the project’s planning.
President Mark D. Gearan expressed gratitude for the donation, emphasizing its impact on the institution’s academic mission. “Cyndy and John Fish’s generosity will allow us to create a modern science center that serves all students, regardless of their field of study, and supports the liberal arts tradition of Hobart and William Smith.”
Currently, 100% of Hobart and William Smith students complete at least one academic requirement in the sciences, and 41% of the Class of 2024 graduated with a major or minor in a STEM field. The new facility aims to support continued growth in these areas, preparing students for research, medicine, and technology careers.
Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish, a former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and now an honorary trustee, has a longstanding history of philanthropic contributions to Hobart and William Smith. In addition to this gift, she was the lead donor for the Centennial Center, which focuses on leadership and entrepreneurial studies, and contributed to the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, where the Fish Screening Room is named in her honor.
With a background in psychology from William Smith and a master’s degree in teaching from Tufts University, Gelsthorpe Fish has dedicated her career to education, environmental causes, and Alzheimer’s research.
As planning for The Fish Center for the Sciences continues, Hobart and William Smith aim to complete fundraising efforts and finalize design details in the coming months.
The facility is expected to advance scientific education and research opportunities for students.