University of Jamestown celebrates opening of Schuler Engineering Lab

On May 10, the University of Jamestown held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening and naming of its new building, the Schuler Engineering Lab.

“This state-of -the-art engineering lab came to life because of the Schuler family’s generous gift," said Brett Moser, UJ’s vice president of alumni relations, development and marketing. "We are grateful for their dedication to our campus, as well as their ongoing commitment to scholarships for our engineering students."

UJ began construction on what is now the Schuler Engineering Lab in the spring of 2018 after the university decided to add a mechanical engineering major to its undergraduate program. The new building, which is attached to Sorkness Hall, is home to the senior engineering lab and contains manufacturing, welding and 3D printing equipment that seniors use to work on their final projects.

The lead donor for the project, George Schuler, graduated from the University of Jamestown in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance and currently serves on the university’s board of trustees. As the founder of Schuler Development, George Schuler is an expert in researching, planning and developing commercial and residential real estate.

The Schuler Engineering Lab has been dedicated to Jack Schuler, George Schuler’s brother. Explaining why he chose to dedicate the building to his brother, George Schuler joked, “We all know there shouldn’t be an academic building named after me.”

Jack Schuler is a health care investor and philanthropist who founded the Schuler Scholar Program, which helps immigrant, low-income and students of color succeed in high school and apply to college. The program has enrolled more than 1,400 students in the Chicago area since its founding.

Both George Schuler and Jack Schuler attended the ribbon-cutting, as well as their sister, Adele Douglas and other relatives. Also in attendance were former UJ President Bob Badal, a friend of the Schuler family, current UJ president, Polly Peterson and the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.