March 10,
2006
Rochester,
NY-The University of Rochester will recognize Robert B.
Goergen's long history of strategic support for the University
by naming its new biomedical engineering-optics building
in his honor, President Joel Seligman announced today.
Goergen has pledged $10 million toward construction of
the building.
"This is the third transformative gift Bob Goergen
has made to the University of Rochester," Seligman
said. "The biomedical engineering-optics building
is the first new building to be constructed for the College
of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering since 1987. Bob's previous
gifts have included $5 million toward the extensive renovation
of the University's athletic center (named for Goergen
in 2000), and another substantial gift to establish and
provide continuous support for the Goergen Awards for
Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching awarded annually
since 1997."
Goergen, a University Trustee since 1982, chaired the
Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2003. He has served the
University as a key volunteer leader as well as generous
benefactor for several decades. "As with the athletic
center and the teaching awards, I see my gift for the
biomedical engineering-optics building as a way to improve
the scholarship, research, and general experience of Rochester
students and faculty in a tangible way," Goergen
said. "The building will have an impact beyond bricks
and mortar. It will be a wonderful hub of activity for
a field of growing importance that will transform lives-not
only on campus, but around the world. I am very proud
to support a project that will be significant for so many
academic pursuits of the University."
"Bob Goergen's contributions have been pivotal to
the recent progress of our University," Seligman
said. "Bob continues to play a vital leadership role
as chairman of the Trustees' strategic planning advisory
committee. As board chair for 12 years, he formed a remarkable
partnership with President Tom Jackson that was crucial
to the great steps forward made by the University. He
is again demonstrating his leadership and commitment to
the University with this wonderful gift today."
The $37.7 million, 100,000-square-foot biomedical engineering-optics
building will house scientists studying both optics and
biomedical engineering-two traditionally strong disciplines
at Rochester-and facilitate their collaboration. The building
will include extensive research facilities, undergraduate
and graduate teaching labs, state-of-the-art demonstration
halls, a 155-seat lecture hall, and the new Center for
Institute Ventures.
Goergen earned a bachelor's degree with honors in physics
from Rochester in 1960. He also holds an M.B.A. from the
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
A successful entrepreneur, Goergen is now chairman and
CEO of Blyth, Inc., of Greenwich, Conn., a publicly traded
company with $1.6 billion in annual sales. He is also
the founder and chairman of The Ropart Group, a private-equity
investment firm based in Greenwich. As an investor and
operating executive, Goergen has been responsible for
the turnarounds of several firms during his extensive
career.
He began his career at Procter & Gamble, moving on
to McCann-Erickson, where he became a senior account executive
within a few years. Next, he joined consultants McKinsey
& Co., Inc., working on sales, pricing, marketing
strategy, mergers, and acquisition of consumer goods operations.
He was made a principal partner in less than four years.
He then became managing general partner of the venture
capital group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenerette, Inc.
The Biomedical Engineering-Optics Building
The University of Rochester's Institute of Optics, founded
more than 75 years ago, was the nation's first program
of higher education in the field of optics. It has awarded
more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate degrees in
optics.
The University's Department of Biomedical Engineering
was formally established in 2000, reflecting increasing
interest in the emerging discipline. Because of the interdisciplinary
nature of its work, the department is a part of both the
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the School
of Medicine and Dentistry. The department offers undergraduate
and graduate courses of study.
"In this building, the Institute of Optics, one of
the University's oldest departments, is partnering with
our newest, the Department of Biomedical Engineering,"
said Wayne Knox, director of the institute. "At this
intersection are some of the most outstanding opportunities
for the 21st century."
"Our vision of a joint facility for biomedical engineering
and optics will take us beyond combined programs and work
space," said Kevin Parker, dean of the School of
Engineering and Applied Sciences. "What we are creating
not only will enhance the University's reputation, it
is part of a burgeoning business-science collaboration
that is moving Rochester and New York State into a new
era of high-tech prominence. Just as the University historically
has been a worldwide leader in optics, it now stands to
become the world leader in this emerging field."
Biomedical optics holds great promise for improving the
lives of individuals through technological advances. For
example, Rochester researchers have developed a laser-based
camera that allows scientists to see inside the human
eye more clearly than ever before. The camera allows routine
pictures of structures as small as single cells at the
back of the living eye. Such adaptive optics may someday
help physicians more effectively diagnose and treat diseases
that cause blindness, such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa,
age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Scientists are investigating ways to use adaptive optics
to allow people to see out into the world more clearly
by permitting more highly customized contact lenses and
refractive surgery. Bausch & Lomb's Zyoptics laser
system is a technology that emerged from University research.
The biomedical engineering-optics building site on the
River Campus sits relatively close to the University's
Medical Center, a location appropriate to the collaborations
that University scientists envision. Biomedical engineering
and medical optics research take place both on the River
Campus and at the Medical Center.
Construction on the new building began in April 2005.
It is scheduled to open in time for spring semester 2007.
©2006 University
of Rochester
