Class of 1988 Alumnus Gives $12 Million to Rename Engineering Building

Southgate University announced a $12 million gift from Paul Vachon '88, founder of a Columbus-based industrial software company, that will fund a top-to-bottom renovation of the College of Engineering & Computing's main building. Once renovations are complete in 2028, the building will be renamed Vachon Hall.

The gift is the largest single commitment from an individual donor in university history, surpassing a 2011 gift that established the Hartwell Library's special collections wing. It will fund new fabrication labs, a robotics testing bay, and expanded classroom space for the growing computing programs.

"Southgate gave me my start, and this campus deserves facilities that match the ambition of the students who walk through it," Vachon said at a campus reception announcing the gift. He earned his degree in mechanical engineering before founding his company in 1996.

Dean of Engineering & Computing Priya Ramaswami said the renovation would let the college expand enrollment in its data science and robotics tracks, both of which have waitlists for lab sections. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2027 following final design review.