Anthony DiLorenzo, owner of Key Auto Group, has donated $4 million to the University of New Hampshire to expand and renovate the Whittemore Center arena.

With the gift from DiLorenzo, a 1987 UNH graduate, the Whittemore Center and the Hamel Recreation Center will form the Key Auto Group Complex — a multipurpose center on the Durham campus.

DiLorenzo’s gift supplements $6 million in state funding included in the recently adopted state budget, and brings the UNH Hockey Renovation Project closer to an eventual goal of $16 million toward improvements to the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex, UNH officials said.

The project is in addition to the nearly $14 million already invested by UNH in recent years to update the ice surface, audio-visual technology, part of the HVAC systems and make other facility improvements.

UNH said in a press release that the upgraded arena will feature larger, more functional and accessible multiuse locker rooms for both men’s and women’s hockey, an expanded strength and conditioning space, and new offices for coaches and administrative staff. The upgrade will also benefit other UNH teams using the facility including UNH Field Hockey and paralympic athletes that compete in sled hockey on UNH’s Northeast Passage team.

“This is an exciting opportunity to help UNH Athletics and the university meet their goal to create a more competitive, state-of-the-art complex that will attract and retain talented student-athletes, draw in more fans and benefit the entire community,” said DiLorenzo.

Key Auto Group includes 12 new and used car dealerships and collision centers statewide and more than 20 other locations around the country. — JEFF FEINGOLD