West Vancouver philanthropist Djavad Mowafaghian is donating $4 million to performance spaces in the new home of Simon Fraser University's contemporary arts school in the Vancouver Woodward's development.

When the school opens next month in its new location, two of its major performance spaces -- a cinema and a world art centre -- will bear his name.

The 350-seat Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, equipped with the latest projection and sound systems, will showcase student film projects as well as festival and community film screenings. It will also be suitable for lectures, panel discussions and large classes.

The Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre will be an acoustically sophisticated venue that will provide a dramatic setting for the performance and study of world music.

Mowafaghian said in a press statement that he was excited to be part of the project adding the new SFU school at Woodwards will be "a magnificent gift for one of Canada's most troubled neighbourhoods."

It's not the first time the North Shore businessman has donated to the university. Mowafaghian previously donated $5.5 million to the Faculty of Health Science children's health research.

Mowafaghian, now in his 80s, earned his fortune as a developer in Iran before moving to Vancouver in 1987. He has credited his mother, who raised him in modest circumstances after his father's death, for his passion for giving back to the community.

During the past 30 years, Mowafaghian's philanthropic donations have been significant -- both in British Columbia and internationally.

Earlier this year, he donated $4 million to build a daycare at B.C. Children's Hospital. He also donated $6 million to the hospital in 2004 to fund redevelopment of the hospital's oncology unit.

Mowafaghian has also given $4 million this year to the University of British Columbia to fund biodiversity outreach and early childhood development research.

Mowafaghian has said previously he believes strongly in supporting health and education for children as the foundation for a healthy society.

Last year Mowafaghian was presented with an honorary doctor of law degree from SFU. In his acceptance speech, Mowafaghian spoke of his poor beginnings and how he dreamed as a little boy that one day he "would be rich enough to help little kids around the world."

jseyd@nsnews.com