University of Chicago Names Lorraine and Yuji Suzuki Center in Honor of Alumni

In recognition of their longstanding support of the University of Chicago and generous contributions to expanding data science education and research, the University has named the Data Science Institute’s new home at 5460 S. University Ave in honor of Yuji Suzuki, SM’70, and in memory of his late wife, Lorraine Suzuki, PhD’73.

The Lorraine and Yuji Suzuki Center will be UChicago’s first building wholly devoted to data science and artificial intelligence, providing space for collaborative research, student work, and public events. The University will celebrate with a dedication event on May 19.

“The Lorraine and Yuji Suzuki Center will fuel collaborations and discoveries at the interdisciplinary frontiers of data science and artificial intelligence,” said Ka Yee C. Lee, dean of the Physical Sciences Division. “We are pleased to honor Lorraine and Yuji Suzuki for their deep commitment to enabling education and research with the potential for global impact.”

Yuji Suzuki earned an MS in Statistics from UChicago in 1970. After graduating, he worked as a mathematics teaching assistant and met Lorraine Suzuki, who was then completing her PhD at UChicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work. The couple later married at UChicago’s Bond Chapel.

Yuji Suzuki established a joint corporate venture between the U.S. and Japan, later becoming founder and chairman of the company Tri-Wall Group, which specializes in providing heavy-duty packaging materials. He has served on the Physical Sciences Division Council for 17 years.

Lorraine Suzuki held faculty and administrative positions throughout her career, eventually serving as Vice President and Interim Director of the Asian Division at the University of Maryland University College (now named University of Maryland Global Campus) prior to her retirement. Lorraine Suzuki died in 2016.

Since its inception in 2021, the Data Science Institute (DSI) has grown to include 70 faculty and faculty affiliates, over 30 postdocs, and more than 850 graduate and undergraduate students. DSI also maintains over 60 active partnerships across industry, academia, and social impact sectors.

5460 S. University Ave. was renovated in 2025 to support the Institute’s expansion. It now includes seminar spaces and nine collaboration spaces as well as huddle rooms, graduate student workspaces, faculty offices, and a wellness room.

“The Lorraine and Yuji Suzuki Center is a world-class facility that will power DSI’s research collaborations, spark new ideas, and drive the growth of our educational and outreach initiatives,” said Dan Nicolae, faculty co-director of the Data Science Institute.

The dedication event will feature remarks from University leadership, a ribbon-cutting, and a reception in the new space.

This was originally written by Natalie Lund for Physical Sciences Division News.