Auburn alumnus makes $5 million commitment toward construction of performing arts center

An Auburn alumnus and his wife have made a $5 million commitment to support the construction of the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University.

According to a report by Beth Smith on the school’s website, Walter and Virginia Woltosz made the gift which is designated for the facility’s main performance hall. The commitment, will ensure that the center can accommodate a wide range of high-quality artistic opportunities including nationally touring Broadway productions, opera, dance and symphony and student and faculty music and theater performances.

The report says the 1,200-seat performance hall will contain a balcony with opera boxes on both levels, adjustable acoustics and lighting and an adjustable orchestra pit, proscenium and symphony shell.

Located across from the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art on South College Street in Auburn, the center’s proximity to the museum will create a new arts district for the university, community and region. Completion of the building is expected to be in 2019.

Woltosz earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from Auburn in 1969 and 1977, respectively, and holds a master’s in administrative science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Early in his career in the aerospace industry, he managed the development of innovative simulation and modeling software for key space and military systems.

According to the story, In 1980, when the mother of Mrs.Woltosz became ill, Woltosz turned his attention to developing augmentative communication systems for persons with severe disabilities. In 1981, the couple founded Words+ Inc., a leader in creating state-of-the-art products that provide the highest quality communication and computer access tools available. In 1996, they founded Simulations Plus, a leading developer of simulation and modeling software for drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

For more on the contribution and the center visit http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2017/06/gift-to-support-main-performance-hall-in-auburn-universitys-new-performing-arts-center.htm?auhphdln

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Auburn alumnus makes $5 million commitment toward construction of performing arts center."