The University of Florida has officially opened the Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology in Gainsville, Florida. The state-of-the-art building, valued at $150 million, was made possible by a generous donation from Nvidia, Nvidia cofounder Chris Malachowsky, and the state of Florida.
With the goal of setting new standards for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) buildings globally, the design of Malachowsky Hall aims to transform the AI and data science workforce. The building, which spans seven stories, was inaugurated through a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Malachowsky Hall is a multidisciplinary space that accommodates medicine, pharmacy, and engineering. It will serve as a central hub for advancing computing, communication, and cyber technologies. Additionally, the building will further support the University of Florida’s efforts to integrate AI across various academic disciplines.
Mori Hosseini, the Chair of UF Board of Trustees, expressed excitement about the impact of the new building. He stated, “This building will not only advance the future of science, it is a symbol of what is possible when universities relentlessly focus on a future that is brighter. This building will propel AI education and research that will improve lives, bolster industry, and create economic growth across the state and around the world.”
Chris Malachowsky, one of the cofounders of Nvidia, played a crucial role in collaborating with architects to design the innovative facade of Malachowsky Hall. Besides the donation from Nvidia, the state of Florida has contributed $110 million, and additional funds have been provided by private and college sources. The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, was also expected to participate in a fireside chat at the university.
Moreover, UF is proud to be the first and only university in the United States to offer all its students the opportunity to learn about AI and its applications in their respective fields, thanks to support from Chris Malachowsky and Nvidia. The university has been recognized nationally for its exemplary approach to building a competitive AI workforce. UF actively collaborates with other educational institutions to integrate AI into their teaching methods, spanning K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.
In 2020, UF announced a generous gift from Chris Malachowsky and Nvidia totaling nearly $60 million. This gift helped establish HiPerGator, one of the most powerful AI supercomputers in the country, with 1,120 Nvidia A100 GPUs. HiPerGator is now accessible to all of the university’s 55,000 students. With state support, UF has also expanded its AI faculty, boasting over 110 additional members, in addition to the existing 300 engaged in AI teaching and research.
UF President Ben Sasse emphasized the university’s commitment to providing students and faculty with the necessary tools and opportunities. Sasse stated, “In a space designed to fuel breakthroughs and boost multidisciplinary collaboration, this building is a critical component of UF’s push to build one of the most forward-thinking and comprehensive research and teaching institutions of our time.”
Furthermore, the Informatics Institute’s data science certificate programs at UF will allow undergraduate and graduate students from all colleges and disciplines to gain access to data analytic courses. These programs build on existing data and software courses, promoting cross-college interactions and enabling students to tackle complex problems through flexible approaches.
The opening of Malachowsky Hall marks a significant milestone for the University of Florida in its mission to advance AI education and research. With support from Nvidia and the state of Florida, UF continues to shape the future of AI and data science, benefiting not only its students but also the wider community.
Source: VentureBeat
