Syracuse University announced a $7 million donation on Monday that will fund a connection from the Carrier Dome to the Barnes Center at The Arch. 

Lifetime Board of Trustees member Robert Miron and his wife Diane made the gift, which will also support SU’s libraries. Their donation will help build “an enclosed pedestrian thruway” between the Dome and The Arch, according to a Monday SU News release. 

A schedule hasn’t been set for the construction of the pathway, which will be named the Miron Victory Court. The project will go through the SU’s capital projects process. The release also didn’t provide details about whether the connection would shorten wait times during game days or otherwise improve experiences for fans.

“We have a lot of exciting ideas about how this space will be used,” said Senior Associate Vice President for Communications Sarah Scalese in a statement. “We are still working out specific details, and following the university’s capital projects governance process, we will begin to better define the scope of the Victory Court project.”

The Victory Court is part of SU’s Stadium Project, a $118 million investment into the Dome to create a new stadium experience. Other improvements include a fixed roof, vertically hung scoreboard, and improved sound and lighting systems, among other things. 

The Monday release refers to the Dome renovations as the “Stadium Project” with no mention of “Carrier Dome” or “the Dome.” 

As part of the Mirons’ gift to SU libraries, the Libraries Learning Commons on the first floor of Bird Library will be renamed after them. Their donation will also support initiatives like the Blackstone LaunchPad, student services, technology improvements and the creation of student spaces, among other things. 

The Mirons’ donation is one of several seven-figure gifts recently made to the university. SU has hinted at the launch of the largest fundraising campaign in its history later this week. Former Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s capital campaign surpassed its $1 billion goal in 2012. 

SU will hold a reception on Friday to show the campus community its “bold vision for the future,” according to an event listing. The Kick-Off Celebration and Cocktail Reception will start at 5:30 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium. 

Chancellor Kent Syverud addressed the upcoming capital campaign at last week’s University Senate meeting. The campaign, which he referred to as the “Forever Orange Campaign” will focus on increasing SU’s endowment and expand the pool of donors and alumni outside Syracuse.

The majority of donors to SU are new and from outside central New York. The campaign also aims to increase the number of alumni who are involved with the university, including donations, helping with student employment opportunities or advocating for SU, Syverud said.

Published on November 4, 2019 at 9:17 am

Contact Casey: casey@dailyorange.com | @caseydarnell_