HOBOKEN -- A New Jersey college is tweaking the name of a new building after the controversial politician who donated money for it "body-slammed" a reporter earlier this year.

Stevens Institute of Technology will name its new academic building the Gianforte Family Academic Building.

Originally, the building was to be named the Gianforte Academic Building after Stevens alumnus and mega-donor Greg Gianforte, elected as a Montana congressman in May.

But Gianforte, who donated $20 million for the new building, attacked a reporter at a campaign event and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.

The new name recognizes Gianforte's legacy "from an institutional perspective" as a loyal and generous alumnus and successful technology entrepreneur and business executive, the university Board of Trustees said in a statement.

It also recognizes Gianforte's wife and business partner Susan Gianforte and parents Dale and Frank Gianforte, also an alumnus.

The congressman agreed to the change, the university said.

The planned academic building at Stevens will be an 89,950-square-foot facility with two buildings that will include classrooms, labs and offices on the corner of Hudson and Sixth streets in Hoboken.

Stevens was criticized for planning to name a building after Gianforte even before the incident with the reporter. Critics questioned his opposition to an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance and his financial support for a creationist dinosaur museum in Montana that uses a literal interpretation of the Bible to depict dinosaurs and humans as living at the same time.

In May, a university professor accused Stevens of publicly celebrating a man responsible for physical violence.

The university assembled a committee of students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees to consider changes the building's name.

Staff writer Kelly Heyboer contributed to this report.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.