Thanks to a generous gift from Barbara Prince and her late husband, Jack Prince, the Weizmann Institute’s iconic Solar Tower—originally built to harness solar energy—will undergo a major renovation that will advance cutting-edge life sciences research. Their support both honors the building’s history and helps shape a future where basic science drives progress in human health.
The revitalized 14-storey tower, to be named the Jack and Barbara Prince Life Sciences Centre, will strengthen Weizmann’s leadership in the field for generations to come. With a sustainable design featuring modular workrooms, natural lighting, and green spaces, the reimagined facility will unite key research platforms and foster cross-disciplinary studies that could transform human health.
The couple’s visionary gift celebrates the life of Jack Prince, beloved husband to Barbara and father to Seymour and Dana. Jack, who passed away in 2024, was a successful lawyer and longtime friend of the Weizmann Institute. He arrived in Canada from Poland in 1939, one of the last to escape before the Holocaust. Jack and Barbara shared a devotion to science, community, and Israel, with Weizmann holding a special place in their hearts.
“I do not consider supporting the Weizmann Institute of Science an act of charity,” Jack once said, “but rather a partnership in the future of science for the benefit of generations to come.”
Originally built in 1988 with the support of over 400 Canadian donors, the Solar Tower was part of a landmark effort spearheaded by Canadian philanthropists Tom and Mary Beck, who helped establish the Canadian Institute for the Energies and Applied Research at Weizmann as a global center for solar science. These Canadian roots were a key factor in why the Prince family chose to fund the transformation of this historic structure.
“Jack and Barbara’s support of Weizmann and its groundbreaking research will shape lives far into the future and leave an indelible impact on society,” says Susan Stern, CEO of Weizmann Canada.
