Northern Illinois University (NIU) has announced a $40 million gift from the Baustert Family Foundation in support of a new health technology center. The largest single gift in the university’s history will fund creation of the Baustert Bahwell Health Technology Center, which will house specialized laboratories and flexible learning, study, and collaboration spaces, all designed to help prepare future clinicians and professionals and, to better serve patients and their families. Construction on the $87 million center is expected to begin in 2026. To that end, the gift will provide $10 million to close the gap on construction costs; $14 million for future programmatic development, including faculty endowments, student scholarships, and the acquisition of technology; and $14 million held in a restricted facility endowment maintenance fund. The remaining $2 million will be directed to NIU’s Northern Fund to address future needs.