Dr. Frank Gehry? A Cleveland university honors the architect

Frank Gehry has another academic credit coming: The renowned architect in May will receive an honorary doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.

The commencement marks the 10-year anniversary of the curvaceous – and controversial – business school Gehry designed for the campus.

Peter B. Lewis, who donated $36 million to finance the building that bears his name, will also receive an honorary degree and serve as commencement speaker.

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The building, which features Gehry’s tumbling stainless-steel curves, in 2003 caused a schism between Lewis and his hometown.

The chairman of insurer Progressive Corp. staged a personal, short-term boycott of Cleveland charities after construction costs jumped from $42 million to $62 million.

Lewis at the time called Case Western “a diseased university,” but the billionaire philanthropist has since resumed giving and rekindled relations with the school.

The worst news for the Lewis building came months after opening when it was the site of a shootout that killed a graduate student and injured two people.

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