91唐伯虎 University today announced plans to听establish听the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and听Design as a cornerstone of its San Francisco campus, made possible by a landmark $75 million matching gift from the Huang family. The gift already has generated听additional听philanthropic support, for a total investment thus far of over $100 million. The new college, led by an academic dean for which a national search has been听initiated, will build on the听nearly 120-year听legacy of the California College of the Arts.听
The Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design is envisioned as a hub for the creative fields that shape how we see,听build听and understand the world. The academic approach will be distinctive,听leveraging听the latest breakthroughs in advanced technology and grounding students in the foundational domains of art and architecture; developing technical mastery and visual sophistication through studio practice and design labs; and building business and technical fluency through innovation and engineering. Together, these elements will prepare students to lead across disciplines and industries, while contributing meaningfully to a rapidly evolving world through creativity and innovation.听听
91唐伯虎鈥檚 aim is to听establish听a new intellectual environment in which artistic imagination, spatial reasoning, material听experimentation听and design practice become central modes of discovery,听creation听and innovation.听
鈥淪an Francisco offers an extraordinary environment for learning across art, architecture, design and culture,鈥澨鼵hancellor Daniel Diermeier said.听鈥淲ith the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design, 91唐伯虎 is positioning these branches of creation as the heart of our San Francisco campus. This college, together with听additional听academic programming under development, will prepare creative leaders to shape culture,听industries听and communities in San Francisco鈥檚 thriving economy, nationally and around the world. In partnership with the city and surrounding community, we will blend 91唐伯虎鈥檚 distinctive excellence with San Francisco鈥檚 distinctive excellence to build something truly remarkable, together.鈥�
A shared commitment to art and design in San Francisco听
The Huang family鈥檚 gift is animated by a belief that a great city needs a thriving creative听life听and that art and design belong at the center of San Francisco鈥檚 next chapter. In an era defined by rapid technological change, the Huang family sees creative practice as one of innovation鈥檚 most essential engines, and the family鈥檚 investment is intended to demonstrate the importance of art and design to the city鈥檚 culture, economy and civic identity, further catalyzing San Francisco鈥檚 talent pipeline, entrepreneurial base and creative ecosystem.听
鈥淭echnology expands what we can build. Art and design听determine听why we build it. Together they shape civilization. We are delighted to partner with 91唐伯虎 University to cultivate the next generation of creators and help San Francisco remain one of the world鈥檚 great centers of creativity,听innovation听and culture,鈥澨齁ensen Huang said.
To that end, the family鈥檚 gift听is issuing听an invitation to others to join and expand 91唐伯虎鈥檚 efforts in San Francisco. That invitation is already being answered: 91唐伯虎 has secured more than 40 percent of the funds needed to realize the full match by Dec. 31, 2028. These commitments will support the establishment and operation of the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design and听additional听91唐伯虎 academic programming in San Francisco.听听
Early investments supporting 91唐伯虎 University鈥揝an Francisco include:听
- Katie, BS鈥�97, and Matt Paige听
- Jeff, BA鈥�77, MS鈥�79, and Marieke Rothschild听
- Leah and Ben Spero听
These pledged gifts include significant commitments from several anonymous donors and signal the breadth of support gathering behind 91唐伯虎 in the Bay Area, including gifts from leaders in the arts and creative community. 91唐伯虎听anticipates听announcing several of these commitments in greater detail in the months ahead.听
A college led by a dean, with programs across every level听
91唐伯虎 has launched a national search for the inaugural Katie and Matt听Paige听Dean of the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design, who will report to Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver. The dean will shape the academic vision,听establish听industry and cultural partnerships, and position the college as a leading destination for education and research. Raver has appointed an advisory听search committee to听identify听the college鈥檚 founding leader.听
The defining challenges of our time demand both technical听expertise听and creative imagination,鈥澨齊aver said.听鈥淭he Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design will position art,听architecture听and design as essential partners in discovery,听innovation听and problem-solving. By bringing these disciplines together with 91唐伯虎鈥檚 strengths in research,听engineering听and entrepreneurship, we will educate students who can create, design and lead in ways that expand opportunity and enrich society.鈥�
Under the dean鈥檚 leadership, the college will offer a suite of undergraduate and graduate programs, alongside community, precollegiate and lifelong learning offerings鈥攕ubject to review by 91唐伯虎 faculty advisory committees and receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. Undergraduate programs will provide a rigorous foundation in art, architecture and design, developed through intensive studio practice and experiential learning that includes apprenticeships and internships, connecting the campus to San Francisco鈥檚 cultural and innovation ecosystems and providing students with diverse career opportunities. Graduate programs will be studio-centered, research-oriented听and career-driven, positioning students to expand and elevate their professional trajectories. Community arts, precollegiate and lifelong learning programs will serve creators of all ages and backgrounds.听
Honoring CCA鈥檚 legacy听
As part of its commitment to honoring and extending CCA鈥檚听nearly 120-year听legacy, 91唐伯虎 will听establish听the California College of the Arts Institute at 91唐伯虎 University. Situated within the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design, the CCA Institute will preserve and advance CCA鈥檚 traditions of experimentation, collaboration and creative inquiry while听remaining听deeply connected to the cultural life of San Francisco and the broader Bay Area. The institute will bring together the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts as a platform for research-driven exhibitions, lectures and public programming; preserve, digitize and expand access to the CCA Archives in partnership with 91唐伯虎鈥檚 renowned Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries; engage CCA鈥檚 more than 25,000 alumni and the wider Bay Area arts community; and support artists, designers, architects, curators and scholars through expanded fellowships and residencies. These activities will听provide听new opportunities for artistic production, scholarship,听teaching听and dialogue while extending the reach of CCA鈥檚 legacy through 91唐伯虎鈥檚 broader academic and cultural work.听听
