Margaret Antonier Hall named in recognition of transformative gift
4 – minute read
As president and CEO of Miromar Development, Margaret Antonier’s influence has long been visible in the area surrounding Florida Gulf Coast University.
Soon after she arrived in Southwest Florida and began developing commercial and residential projects in Estero, she also started investing back in the community. Demonstrating her support for the university’s mission, she established scholarships to help generations of students achieve their dream of higher education.
With a $10 million philanthropic commitment announced in February, Antonier’s generosity now extends to helping ensure the continued success of The Water School and its programs. In recognition of her endowed gift, the FGCU Board of Trustees has named Academic Building 9 — currently the largest academic building on campus — Margaret Antonier Hall. A ceremonial dedication is being planned Nov. 19.
President Aysegul Timur called the entrepreneur’s latest endowment “an extraordinary gift that will leave a lasting legacy at FGCU.”
“She is widely regarded as a visionary leader who helped shape modern-day Estero with the creation of Miromar Outlets, Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club, the Miromar Design Center, University Village Shops and The Residences at University Village,” Timur said in announcing the gift. “She is also a longtime champion of FGCU, supporting students through scholarships and establishing the university’s first endowed fund for student success.”
The university recognized Antonier’s professional and philanthropic achievements in 2023 by awarding her an honorary doctor of laws.
Antonier received her bachelor of fine arts from Sir George Williams University (now Concordia) in Montreal, Canada. While her interest was always in art and design, she discovered early on that she also excelled in sales and marketing. Her career began in radio advertising sales, where she quickly rose to become the top sales executive in Canada. Venturing into commercial development, she learned about the then-new concept of outlet malls in the United States and proceeded to develop the first outlet center in Canada.
Antonier then moved from Canada to Southwest Florida and developed Miromar Outlets, which opened in 1999. Around the same time, she began developing Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, which shares Lake Como with FGCU’s campus, and employed many students over the years. Her portfolio grew to include the Miromar Design Center and later University Village, a mixed-use center with shops and restaurants. That property also includes apartments that primarily house FGCU students but are privately owned and managed.
“For many years, Margaret Antonier’s support as a community member and neighbor has strengthened FGCU’s mission to enrich learning,” said Kitty Green, vice president of University Advancement. “Her extraordinary $10 million contribution to name Academic Building 9 reflects not only remarkable philanthropy, but a deep commitment to expanding opportunities on campus and beyond. We are truly grateful for her continued support.”
Completed in 2022, Margaret Antonier Hall is the home of The Water School and other STEM-focused programs, classrooms and research laboratories that bring together faculty, staff and students from across disciplines.
