Schwartz Common & Pavilion
About the Space
The Schwartz Common and Pavilion were dedicated in 2019 in recognition of a gift from The Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman Foundation. Representing an outdoor hub of community life at HBS, the Schwartz Common and Pavilion are places for events, exchange and socialization, recreation, and reflection.
The Schwartz Common and Pavilion comprise the landscaped quadrangle framed by Aldrich Hall, Cumnock Hall, Klarman Hall, and the Spangler Center. The central open area of the Common provides a vibrant locus for campus activity, from casual interactions to ceremonial events that bring together faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The Pavilion supports seasonal and programmatic flexibility with a contemporary design that resonates with the legacy campus.
About the Donors
Heather Reisman, Gerald Schwartz (MBA 1970) & Dean Nitin Nohria at the dedication ceremony on April 18, 2019.
Gerald Schwartz, MBA 1970, is the Founder and CEO of Onex Corporation. He has been appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada and inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Gerry is a Chairman, Director or Governor of a number of civic, philanthropic, and business organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School, and five Doctor of Laws (Hon.) degrees.
Gerry and his wife, Heather Reisman, live in Toronto and have four children and eleven grandchildren. Heather, a successful entrepreneur, is the founder, chair and CEO of Indigo Books & Music, Canada’s leading book and lifestyle retailer. She is a former Governor of McGill University, her alma mater, and the Toronto Stock Exchange and has served on many North American Boards. Dedicated philanthropists, Gerry and Heather pledged a $100M gift to the University of Toronto in March 2019 to spur Canadian innovation and explore the intersections of technology and society.
Rooted in his belief that the presence of provocative art promotes creative thinking, Gerry has provided HBS with philanthropic support to expand its collection of contemporary art. The Schwartz Collection is prominently displayed throughout campus, bringing an artistic energy that helps make the HBS experience truly unique. These gifts inspired the founding of the student led HBS Art Appreciation Society in 2001, which holds community led temporary art exhibitions, as well as numerous tours and discussions based on the works. Additionally, HBS faculty have also drawn from the Schwartz Collection using some of the pieces as visual case studies that allow students to explore emotional themes and differences of interpretation, greatly enhancing the classroom discussion.