Interdisciplinary building gets new name, recognizing Roger Susi’s $50 million gift to CWRU
Roger E. Susi Interdisciplinary Research Building opening launches CWRU’s $2.5B campaign
When Roger E. Susi hears the word “interdisciplinary” come up in connection with many programs, he typically has the same response: “It’s a buzzword.”
But when he saw the plans for the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building at Case Western Reserve University—a space for STEM-oriented teams to work together to find complex solutions—“it lit me up. I thought, ‘This is a good idea.’”
On Oct. 21, Case Western Reserve leadership announced Susi’s $50 million gift toward the project, which is now named the Roger E. Susi Interdisciplinary Research Building. The announcement came at the grand opening of the building—and the kickoff of Breakthrough Point, Case Western Reserve University’s $2.5 billion comprehensive campaign.
Susi (CIT ’77) and his wife, Kayoko, had committed $25 million to the project in 2023, inspired by the vision of bringing together 65 faculty members, 300 researchers and countless students from different disciplines into one space, sharing both equipment and ideas. With his additional $25 million gift and a match from the university’s century bond program, the gift’s total impact is $100 million.
“It starts with the open structure and just bumping into people. Then you go upstairs into these malleable labs,” Susi said. “These collaborations should result in great research outcomes.”
Susi, an entrepreneur and founder of medical startups, made his way as a self-proclaimed tinkerer whose work eventually led to the world’s first successful vital-signs-monitoring device for MRI patients.
His current company, Iradimed, was named one of the nation’s top 100 small companies by Forbes in 2023, and is known for its MRI infusion pump.
“Roger and Kayoko were among the first to support this building and to fully embrace our vision for its mission and impact on our research enterprise. We are proud to name the Susi Interdisciplinary Research Building in their honor,” said Case Western Reserve University President and Morton L. Mandel Presidential Chair Eric W. Kaler. “Their gift is truly transformational—for the Susi Interdisciplinary Research Building, for the researchers and students working in the Susi Building labs, and, importantly, for the life-changing outcomes made possible by the innovation and discovery that will occur here.”
In 2019, Susi gave $2 million to the university to create the Roger E. Susi First-Year Engineering Experience. The program gives undergraduates access to a 5,000-square-foot lab space for hands-on projects, and is the foundation for a full-year introductory course required for all engineering majors.
Susi sees his continued commitment to Case Western Reserve as an opportunity to give students the same foundational support he had during college.
“If Case Western Reserve made an impact on your life, you ought to pay it ahead,” Susi said.
Philanthropic support has been instrumental in bringing the $300 million project to life, with donors giving a total $165 million and the rest matched by the university’s century bond program.
These named spaces recognize the generous support of donors to the Roger E. Susi Interdisciplinary Research Building who made gifts of $5 million or more:
- Tinkham Veale Gateway ($20M)
- The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Terrace ($15M)
- James M. Galm, PhD, PE Electrochemical Engineering & Energy Science Research Cluster (plus professorships) ($10M)
- Eric & Jane Nord Family Floor ($8M)
- Brittan & Fred DiSanto Family Forum ($7M)
- Timken Foundation Grand Atrium ($5M)
- Aarti & Asheem Chandna Roof Terrace ($5M)
- Case Alumni Association Legacy Wall ($5M)
Inside the 189,000-square-feet space, the Susi Building houses wet labs, dry labs and a core lab. There are open areas—including the Tinkham Veale Gateway and The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Terrace—building collaboration into its structure.
Researchers will be advancing interdisciplinary work in seven unique areas known as research clusters:
- James M. Galm, PhD, PE Electrochemical Engineering & Energy Science
- Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
- Molecular Therapeutics
- Precision Diagnostics & Therapeutics
- NeuroTechnology
- NeuroRobotics
- Climate & Ecosystem Science
Launching the Breakthrough Point Campaign
The opening of the Susi Building was the perfect opportunity to launch Breakthrough Point, Case Western Reserve’s $2.5 billion comprehensive campaign, as Roger and Kayoko have both committed to serve as part of the campaign cabinet—representing and advocating for the future of the university.
It also serves as the second lead gift of the campaign, alongside the $125 million combined gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation announced in April.
Both initiatives create opportunities to reshape and reimagine their fields of study at Case Western Reserve.
“We’re grateful to partner with others who care about CWRU as much as we do,” said Fred DiSanto (WRC ’85, MGT ’86), who is co-chairing the campaign alongside his wife, Brittan. “Roger and Kayoko’s ongoing commitment to pushing the university forward is exactly how we can support our students and faculty in breakthroughs across industries, and give back to an institution that has such a positive influence on our lives.”
The campaign is built around three pillars: preparing the leaders of tomorrow, powering innovation to impact and advancing health and well-being.
The results that will come from the interdisciplinary work in the Susi Building will advance all three of these pillars and serve as the tipping point for research that will shape the future.
“Hopefully this will be an example for others,” Susi said. “This is the tip of the spear that gets things up to that next level.”
Related Stories
