Topping off a recent string of successes in robotics and computer science, Carnegie Mellon today announced a $10 million gift from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation to help construct a research building in its new computer science complex.

CMU President Jared L. Cohon and foundation President David K. Roger said discussions had been underway for years, but the timing was right with construction of the School of Computer Science Complex already underway.

The complex will include the Gates Center for Computer Science and the newly named Hillman Center for Future-Generation Technologies.

The 200,000-square-foot complex will face Forbes Avenue and serve as the main entrance to CMU's world-renowned School of Computer Science. It will expand space available for classrooms, offices and research laboratories.

"Mr. Hillman has always had a deep interest in science and technology, and in Pittsburgh we're so fortunate to have the world leader in computer science," Mr. Roger said. "When they started this new project, so many things were in alignment and that's when we got involved."

The November victory of CMU's robotic vehicle in the Urban Challenge and announcement of computer science professor Edmund M. Clarke as a Turing Award winner, among other recent successes, provided momentum for the donation.

But discussions between the foundation and CMU already were long underway.

"We've had a tremendous year and it seems that every year is better than the previous one," Dr. Cohon said. "This phenomenal new complex will help attract and retain the very best people. This will be the destination for computer science."

Construction of the $98 million complex already is underway with completion scheduled for summer 2009. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation previously donated $20 million for construction of Gates Center for Computer Science.

"Research and technology developed at Carnegie Mellon that at one time seemed like science fiction have created essential everyday tools for business, medicine and countless other applications that we now almost take for granted," Henry Hillman said in a news release. "Our hope is that the Center for Future-Generation Technologies will seed new efforts to continue and accelerate this cycle of innovation and progress."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.