Building Dedication Honors Former UC President Joseph A. Steger

Former UC President Joseph A. Steger, UC President Nancy L. Zimpher, the UC Board of Trustees and nearly 100 other people, including students, faculty and community leaders, celebrated the dedication of the Joseph A. Steger Student Life Center on Sept. 28. UC Student Body President Justin Shafer led the tour of the building that opened up on MainStreet last May.

The $26.2 million, 92,000 square-foot building, designed by Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners of Santa Monica, houses student offices, a state-of-the-art computer lab, Business on Main (a computer, copy and photo processing center), Starbucks and Subway. It is named in tribute of UC’s 20th president, who started here as provost in 1982 and moved to the president’s office in 1984.

It was Steger’s vision that formed the Master Plan, which featured world-class architects to design buildings that were not only teaching tools, but served as pathways through the campus.

At the ceremony, he recalled that when he first came to UC, “The place was a mess. It was full of cars, cigarette butts and things sinking into the ground.” He added that “In a situation like that, how could I go wrong?”

As he thanked the crowd that attended the building dedication in his honor, Steger added that none of the accomplishments was achieved single-handedly. “I was only the coach,” he said. Steger became emotional as he thanked his family for their support over the years, especially his wife, Carol.

Steger continues to serve UC in the College of Business, examining how nonprofit companies can improve operations.

The dedication ceremony featured the unveiling of a plaque and portrait honoring Steger that will be displayed in the Joseph A. Steger Student Life Center.