| VIDEO |
 * Purdue President France Córdova and Heddy Kurz speak at a groundbreaking for the expansion of the Purdue Research Park (91 seconds) |
| RELATED INFO |
| * Purdue Research Park |
| * Purdue Research Foundation |
April 7, 2008
Purdue Research Park breaks ground, announces gift for new tech center
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
The deferred gift from Heddy Kurz of Louisville will be applied toward construction of Purdue Research Park's $14.5 million Purdue Technology Center II building, which will be located at 1280 Win Hentschel Blvd. The center will support about 275 jobs and 26 companies. The average annual wage of employees working in the park is $52,000.
Kurz's gift is in honor of her late husband, Herman, who received a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue. In recognition of the gift, the building will be called the Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center, subject to approval by the Purdue Research Foundation's board of directors.
"The generosity of Heddy Kurz and her late husband Herman is well known at Purdue," said France A. Córdova, president of both Purdue and the Purdue Research Foundation. "Their gifts helped lay the foundation for several of our initiatives, including the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering and the Lawson Computer Science Building, and provide ongoing support for the Purdue 'All-American' Marching Band.
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"These types of gifts are integral to our success, and we are very fortunate to have alumni and friends like Heddy. We appreciate Heddy allowing us to celebrate her gift during this week leading up to Friday's presidential inauguration. It is one of several we're looking forward to sharing."
Kurz previously donated $1.9 million for the Herman and Heddy Kurz Atrium in the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering and $2 million for the Herman and Heddy Kurz Lobby in the Richard and Patricia Lawson Computer Science Building. The couple also has supported the purchase and maintenance of instruments for the Purdue band.
"The education that Herman received at Purdue provided him with the skills he needed for his career, so I am very happy to contribute to the facilities that will help future generations of Purdue graduates and create opportunities for them," Kurz said. "It is a terrific time to be involved with Purdue and the Purdue Research Park because there are so many exciting things happening with new discoveries and new jobs."
Herman Kurz worked as an electrical engineer throughout his career.
While a student at Purdue, he was a treasurer of the Literary Society, a member of the debate team, Purdue Band, Kappa Phi Sigma honorary society, YMCA, Purdue Athletic Association and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Heddy Kurz attended the University of Louisville.
The Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center is expected to open in 2009. The 105,000-square-foot building will house several startup and expanding companies and the nearly 100 Purdue Research Foundation employees who will move out of the original Purdue Technology Center to make room for new companies there.
The first Purdue Technology Center, which opened in 1999 and expanded in 2005, contains 105,000 square feet of laboratory and office space. The building has operated at capacity since opening.
"We have at least 10 companies on a waiting list that grows every month, and we have successful Purdue Research Park resident companies seeking additional space, so we need an additional technology center," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation, which manages the Purdue Research Park. "The new facility will help us continue to provide the park's technical services to innovative companies, startups and entrepreneurs."
The City of West Lafayette approved a 10-year tax abatement for the new facility worth $1.5 million.
"The Purdue Research Park and Purdue Research Foundation are important partners in our desire to create more jobs and further develop our economic base," West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis said. "The Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center is another step forward for the Purdue Research Park and West Lafayette."
About Purdue Research Park
The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related and another 57 are incubator businesses. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university-affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. The park's companies also have received numerous recognitions, including a 2006 MIRA Award: Innovation of the Year for Purdue Research Park/Quadraspec Inc. and a 2005 CoreNet Global Innovators Award finalist.
The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana, including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.
Purdue Research Foundation contact: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, (765) 413-6031, casequin@prf.org
Source: Joseph B. Hornett, (765) 496-1658, jbhornett@prf.org
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis (from left), Heddy Kurz, Purdue President France A. Córdova and Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation, celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center. The 105,000-square-foot facility is named for Herman and Heddy Kurz. Heddy Kurz of Louisville donated $3 million toward the $14.5 million building in honor of her late husband, who received a degree in electricial engineering from Purdue University. The building will open is 2009. (Purdue Research Park photo/Vincent Walter)
RENDERING CAPTION:
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center in West Lafayette, Ind., took place Monday (April 7). The building, which will open in 2009, is part of the 725-acre Purdue Research Park.
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