New matching gift opportunities will support construction of the Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center and the recital hall, being named for the Arianna String Quartet, in the newly renovated Arts Administration Building.

By Erica Falgout

Two matching gift challenges are giving University of Missouri–St. Louis supporters a unique opportunity to double their impact and help shape the future of campus in the process.

As part of the university’s broader Transform UMSL initiative, gifts to renovating the Arts Administration Building and constructing the Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center will be matched dollar for dollar through June 30. These limited-time challenges come at a pivotal point, with momentum building around key campus transformation projects and alumni engagement efforts.

The Arts Administration Building will become a new home for UMSL’s music and art programs. The renovated facility will feature studios, galleries and a state-of-the-art recital hall intended to honor the Arianna String Quartet – Missouri’s only professional string quartet in residence. The space will showcase student and faculty performances while serving as a creative hub for the campus and community.

A generous donor has issued a $150,000 matching gift challenge to support the renovation and formally recognize the quartet’s impact on UMSL and the arts with the naming of the Arianna String Quartet Recital Hall. Donors giving $1,000 or more will be acknowledged on a plaque inside the hall. All gifts will be matched 1:1 through June 30.

“Supporting the arts at UMSL means creating a space for students to thrive, a space for collaboration and community,” said Professor Joanna Mendoza, who teaches viola and serves as the chair of the Department of Music.

Gifts to support the renovation of the Arts Administration Building will help name the recital hall to honor the Arianna String Quartet.

Meanwhile, the university is preparing to welcome future Tritons and celebrate alumni in a space designed just for them. The Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center will serve as UMSL’s new “front door,” housing Admissions, Student Services and Alumni Engagement. The 31,000-square-foot building will host tours, orientations, receptions and other events that support the student journey and build lasting ties with the university.

Supporters of the project can take advantage of a $150,000 matching gift challenge from the UMSL Alumni Association running through June 30. Donors contributing $1,000 or more will be recognized on a plaque in the Alumni Association Conference Room, where alumni programming and gatherings will be held for years to come.

Progress is continuing on the construction of the Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center on UMSL’s North Campus. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

Both projects are part of the larger Transform UMSL effort – a multi-year campus redevelopment initiative made possible through state and federal funding, university investment and donor support. In total, the university is investing more than $110 million to consolidate and modernize its footprint, creating more vibrant and functional spaces for students, faculty and the community.

Every gift counts. Contributions, at any amount, will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling its impact. All donors to the Arts Administrative Building or the Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center will also be invited to and recognized at the respective opening events. Alumni and friends can learn more or make a gift at umsl.edu/campus-transformation.