Wangs Donate $11 Million for Enhanced Student Spaces, New Pedestrian Tunnel

University Trustee Shirley Wang ’93BUS and her husband Walter recently gave Columbia University $10 million to fund the design, renovation, and ongoing maintenance of student lounges in John Jay Hall and Wallach Hall and to create a new multipurpose café and arts-performance space, to be named the Wang Odeon, in Lerner Hall. They also donated $1 million to construct the Walter and Shirley Fan Wang Link, a pedestrian tunnel that will connect Henry R. Kravis Hall and David Geffen Hall, the business school’s two new buildings in Manhattanville.

The Wangs, who own California-based building-materials companies, have two children attending Columbia College and serve as members of the College’s Parent Leadership Council.

“As Columbia parents, it was important to us to encourage connection among students, especially after all the disruptions caused by the pandemic,” says Shirley Wang. “Walter and I want our children and their classmates — and future generations of Columbia undergraduates — to have the opportunity to gather together and participate in a vibrant community.”