Lawrence Tech to get $11M from Taubman
Metro Detroit developer and philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman pledged $11 million to Lawrence Technological University on Wednesday to build an engineering, architecture and life sciences building that will bear his name. The donation brings to about $225 million the amount of money the real estate developer has given to universities, art schools and institutes and other causes. The developer of major shopping malls and commercial projects said in an interview that he, his daughter and two sons select projects to support from a fund they created. Philanthropy, he said, “is something you build in your mind. I certainly know people as rich as I am. But they don’t have the heart. They think they’re going to take it with them. I can assure them, they won’t.” With a net worth of $2.3 billion, Taubman is the fourth-richest man in Michigan and ranks No. 512 among 1,210 on this year’s Forbes magazine’s World’s Billionaires list. Last month, he donated $56 million to the University of Michigan for stem-cell research. Taubman has donated $142 million to U-M — $100 million for the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. Taubman will give money to Lawrence Tech in two phases: $1 million for planning and development of the A. Alfred Taubman Engineering, Architecture and Life Sciences Complex, and $10 million for a challenge grant that Taubman would pay if the school matches the gift in three years with $20 million in donations. The 100,000-square-foot building will be attached to the school’s engineering building to form the complex. Taubman, who did not complete college, studied at U-M for three years before transferring to night school at Lawrence Tech as a junior. He took classes for two years when the school, now in Southfield, held classes in Highland Park. Asked what motivates his giving, Taubman said: “I’m 87 years old. Gotta give it away sometime.” • CONTACT PATRICIA ANSTETT: 313-222-5021 OR PANSTETT@FREEPRESS.COM 
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