Photo rendering of the Tinkham Veale Gateway.

Veale Foundation commits $20 million to CWRU’s science and engineering building; names new gateway

Alumnus Tinkham Veale II’s name already marks collaborative spaces across Case Western Reserve’s campus, including an entrepreneurship institute that launched in 2019, the university center that opened in 2014, and the convocation, recreation and athletic center that opened in 1997. 

Now, when CWRU debuts its 189,000-square-foot Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB) in 2026, his name will welcome visitors through a new entry point to Case Quad: the Tinkham Veale Gateway.

The Veale family and Veale Foundation have contributed more than $76 million to Case Western Reserve, including the foundation’s new commitment of $20 million for the ISEB, which will be matched by a century bond, bringing the total impact to $40 million.

“Tinkham Veale committed to supporting the university every year after his graduation in 1937 and we’re happy to continue this tradition by supporting such an important endeavor,” said Dan Harrington, chairman of the Veale Foundation. “This building will enable the kind of connection and collaboration that defined Tinkham’s time at the university.” 

After graduating from Case Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, Veale built a robust career in business and manufacturing, ultimately becoming part owner, president and chairman of Alco Standard Corp. In 1964, Harriet and Tinkham Veale established The Veale Foundation on the principle of improving the quality of life for the citizens of Northeast Ohio.

In the same spirit of the Tinkham Veale University Center, which connects the east and west sides of CWRU’s campus and serves as a hub for students, faculty and staff members alike, the ISEB will bring together scholars and researchers from the university’s Case School of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences. 

At 12,000 square feet, the Tinkham Veale Gateway will be a focal point of the ISEB and will serve as the university’s central connector from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Case Quad. The fully accessible path will offer patio space and greenery, with plenty of seating for those looking to study, meet with colleagues or share a meal.

“This commitment echoes the legacy of Tinkham Veale, who believed strongly in opening doors to education and supported Case Western Reserve in pursuit of that goal,” said CWRU President Eric W. Kaler. “The Veale Foundation’s generosity continues to transform our campus, providing students and faculty members with cutting-edge facilities for innovation and discovery.”