Some people rent a billboard to tell the world that they are celebrating a loved one's birthday. University of Pittsburgh officials took that idea to a new level: They renamed a nine-story building.

The first of the university's three biomedical science towers will wear the name of renowned transplant surgeon Dr. Thomas Starzl, who turns 80 today.

Chancellor Mark Nordenberg announced the surprise yesterday at a luncheon in the Oakland research building, which already has a floor of labs for the Starzl Transplantation Institute.

"I was totally flabbergasted," Dr. Starzl said. "I was completely unprepared for it. I had not had any hint of this."

His longtime secretary, Terry Mangan, said she didn't know, either, and if she had been told, she probably would have spilled the beans. Dr. Starzl was clearly gratified. "He was so happy," she said. "I thought he was going to have a heart attack!"

About 30 people attended the lunch, including Dr. Starzl's wife, Joy, son, Tim, and grandson, Ravi; senior Pitt faculty members; and transplant luminaries Sir Roy Calne of the University of Cambridge and Dr. Carl Groth, of the Karolinska Institute.

But like the guest of honor, most of them did not know what was coming, Mr. Nordenberg said.

"There has been planning and plotting going on for a number of months," he said. "This seemed to be the most fitting approach to both recognize Dr. Starzl's achievements and contributions and also to underscore, in a visible and permanent way, his inspiring example."

What will soon be the Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower is located at Lothrop, Darragh and Terrace streets in Oakland. A formal ceremony to rededicate the building likely will be held in June.

It and Salk Hall, named for polio vaccine developer Dr. Jonas Salk, "will sit almost across the street from each other," Mr. Nordenberg said. "There is a double-barrelled message of respect for ambition and contribution in those two facilities."

The idea to rename the research building came out of the medical school's surgery department and the Starzl Transplantation Institute, and the university's board enthusiastically embraced it, Mr. Nordenberg said.

According to the chancellor, Dr. Starzl has often expressed gratitude for the opportunities the university gave him, and has said the achievements wouldn't have been possible anywhere else.

In return, "he was a key to elevating perceptions of southwestern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh in particular as a center of pioneering medical research and the highest quality of health care," Mr. Nordenberg noted.

A formal announcement about the honor was made at a reception last night, and a scientific symposium will be held today and a reunion dinner tonight. More than 400 scientists, physicians and transplant survivors were expected to attend the tribute to the transplant surgeon.

Dr. Starzl's landmark work as a researcher, surgeon and teacher has given countless people around the world a second chance at life through organ transplantation and earned him numerous honors. Last month at the White House, President Bush awarded him the prestigious National Medal of Science.

"I'm glad these things happened at the end of my life," said Dr. Starzl, with a laugh. Any earlier and "all the time you'd be puffed up and probably wouldn't do any more work."

Ms. Mangan said her boss still routinely puts in 11-hour work days, and try as she might, she never beats him into the office.

By the time the tower was built in 1990, Dr. Starzl no longer conducted experiments himself. But he has spent a lot of time in the building that will bear his name, working with colleagues and young researchers.

"I was designing experiments and interpreting results and mainly writing papers," Dr. Starzl said. "I've been working hard, though. Honest."