Marquette University’s new residence hall will be named for longtime Marquette President Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J.

Alumni Ray and Kay Eckstein have issued a $10 million challenge toward the construction of the university’s new residence hall facility, President Michael R. Lovell announced today in his annual campus address.

The Ecksteins have challenged the university to raise $10 million; once the challenge is met, the Ecksteins will match the $10 million and the overall complex will be named for longtime Marquette President Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J., in appreciation and honor of his exceptional service and dedication to the university.

This marks the third significant gift the alumni couple have made to Marquette.

The Ecksteins in 2007 donated $51 million toward Eckstein Hall, home of the Marquette University Law School, and in 2014 they donated to the construction of the Dr. E.J. O’Brien Jesuit Residence.

The university will name one of the new residence hall facility’s two towers in their honor.

The Ecksteins are one of the university’s two largest all-time donors, and their $51 million gift to the Law School is the largest in Marquette history.

“Ray and Kay Eckstein’s generosity is both inspirational and transformational for Marquette University. I’m so pleased that we can recognize their exceptional lifelong commitment to Marquette in this way,” Lovell said. “This latest gift from the Ecksteins again propels us forward, supporting us in our construction of a world-class residence hall for future generations of students. And to bestow upon it Father Wild’s name is both fitting and a touching testament to his legacy at Marquette.”

Father Wild was the 22nd president of Marquette from 1996 to 2011 — he served again as interim president from 2013 to 2014. Under his leadership, the university raised more than $800 million, including more than $200 million for scholarships and several eight-figure gifts that accelerated campus construction projects, including Rev. John P. Raynor, S.J., Library, the Al McGuire Center, Engineering Hall, and Eckstein Hall.

Marquette University in November 2016 broke ground for its new $96 million, 750-bed co-ed residence hall facility that will house freshman and sophomore students.

Located on the northwest part of campus, south of Wells Street between 17th and 18th Streets, the facility will feature two 375-bed resident towers connected through the lower levels by dining and campus community space.

It is set to open in August 2018.