Kamins give $65M for UPMC Presbyterian tower project, medical research

Philanthropists Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin on Tuesday continued their recent giving spree by announcing $65 million toward UPMC’s Presbyterian hospital tower and medical research.

The research portion of the gift is geared toward studying the brain and heart and is specifically in response to cuts in federal research funding, Carole Kamin told TribLive.

The remainder will go toward spaces for patients and medical professionals as well as the lobby, which is open to the public and will feature retail and dining space.

Other donors have contributed towards the new tower, “but the vast majority” comes from the Kamins, according to Sandy Rader, president of UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Hospital.

Work started in 2022 on the $1.3 billion tower in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Construction is expected to wrap up in late 2026, and the first patients will be welcomed in early 2027.

While the reflective exterior looks mostly complete, the tower’s 17 stories are still very much a work in progress, according to Kelly Noel, vice president of construction, real estate and facilities at UPMC.

In August, crews will kick on the heating and cooling systems to create a temperature-controlled environment for finishing work, like installing floors, ceilings and light fixtures.

Since the start of 2024, the Kamins have donated $65 million to the Carnegie Science Center, $25 million to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and $11.5 million to the Heinz History Center.

The Kamin Family Foundation is built on Daniel’s real estate development business, Kamin Realty, which owns more than 400 properties across 44 states.