University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto Thursday announced the largest gift in UK’s history — a $20 million commitment and lead gift by UK graduate and Trustee Carol Martin (Bill) Gatton toward the construction of the university’s new 330,000-square-foot Student Center.

The new Student Center — a $175 million, self-financed renovation and expansion scheduled to open in 2017 — was authorized by the Kentucky legislature during its 2014 session. It is part of more than $1 billion in campus transformation projects being self-financed by the university.

The Student Center was originally constructed in 1938 and expanded in 1963 and 1982. A central facility to the university community, it hosts nearly 2 million visitors annually.