Tufts' psychology department is housed in a red brick building without a name, and according to University officials, there are no plans to name the building in the near future.
Though the Development Office has identified potential donors, the University has not yet found anyone eager to make the multi-million dollar contribution required to earn naming rights for the Boston Ave. building.
The building, which opened this year, cost over $5 million to construct.
According to Provost Sol Gittleman, the psychology building should have a name soon. The University is "progressing well" in discussions with people interested in making donations, said Vice President of Development Brian Lee. "We are in contact with a number of individuals who are interested in funding our efforts," he said. They are, "impressed with facility and what it's enabling the department to do."
For a donor to have his or her name on the building, according to Lee, he or she typically has to offer half the cost of the building's construction after any federal grants. Though the exact amount was unavailable, the donation would have to be in the multi-million dollar range.
If a donor does not want to pay to name the building, there are other ways to contribute, Lee said. Donors gifts could be recognized by naming rooms, halls, and labs among other facilities. "It's a target of opportunity," he said. "The psychology building, we hope, is certainly an attractive naming opportunity."
The senior director of development for arts, sciences, and engineering, Gary Lowe, said Tufts would likely continue searching for a major donor well into the future.
Though the building is still without a principle donor, the construction of the 28,000-square-foot structure has been paid for. A $1 million grant from the National Institute of Health, a private $250,000 donation, and funds from the Arts and Sciences budget paid for construction.
There is some speculation, however, about where the major donation will originate. Typically, buildings are named after individuals or organizations that donate large sums of money to the University. Buildings can be named after professors or prominent figures on campus, including former presidents, if the Board of Trustees approves. Monetary donations and campus prominence are taken into account when a building is named.
The lack of a name has not bothered Psychology students, who refer to it almost officially as "the new Psychology building."
"Everyone knows it by that," said sophomore Tara Paulose, who plans to major in psychology. "No one really cares," added sophomore Leigh Checchio. Students said the building is fully functional and the lack of name has not impacted the department.
Tufts is offering the name of the building to potential investors and there are "no worries" about whether a benefactor will be named soon, Lowe said. "It's a wonderful resource for Tufts faculty and is certainly something many donors will be interested in," he said.
According to psychology Professor Lisa Shin, the new building is unifying the psychology department. Previously, the department was housed in both Paige and Bacon Halls. The new building, located at 490 Boston Ave., unites one of the most popular departments on campus for the first time in 15 years.
It's a matter of time before a name is found, said Shin. "It's a nice environment, students tend to be happier," she said.
Nicholas Ferre contributed to this report.
