The MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing recently celebrated the completion of its new Vassar Street building. The dedication ceremony was attended by members of the MIT community, distinguished guests, and supporters, reflecting on the transformative gift from Stephen A. Schwarzman that initiated the biggest change to MIT’s institutional structure in over 70 years. Schwarzman, chair, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone, one of the world’s largest alternative investment firms, made the foundational donation for the establishment of the college.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth acknowledged the success of the new college, attributing it to Steve’s vision. She mentioned the new building will house 50 computing research groups and will encourage a fusion of knowledge and idea sharing. The college, she said, will direct its expertise towards major global challenges like health, the environment, and the societal, economic, and ethical implications of new technologies.
Schwarzman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with MIT, describing it as an incredible chance to impact one of the greatest technologies of our time. Contribution to the college was motivated by Schwarzman’s trips to China, where he observed significant investment in artificial intelligence. Concern for the comparatively subdued level of development in the US led him to ensure that the country would not lag behind in AI advancements. He emphasized the need for progress in AI to go hand in hand with ethical considerations.
MIT President Emeritus L. Rafael Reif and Schwarzman shared a collaborative process in the realization of the college, with detailed discussions around the concept. After a year of discussion with Schwarzman and MIT’s leadership, the institute announced the formation of the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing in October 2018. To acknowledge Schwarzman’s pivotal role, Reif presented him with a sketch of the early building concept.
Appointed Dean of the College in 2019, Dan Huttenlocher spoke of the building as embodying the college’s mission of advancing computing fields, fortifying core computer science, and exploring the social, ethical, and policy dimensions of computing. Huttenlocher expressed satisfaction at the vibrant activity within the building’s walls and thanked all those involved in the construction process.
Additionally, Huttenlocher thanked Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, Dean of the School of Engineering, and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, for his early involvement with the college, and Asu Ozdaglar, Deputy Dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, for her leadership throughout the college’s development.
