The Past - Where We've Come From

The University of California has a long history in Washington, D. C. Since the Second World War, the University has been a partner with the federal government and has maintained a presence in Washington. In 1988, the 15th president of the University of California, David P. Gardner (1983-1992) proposed the creation of a Center in Washington, D. C. for the pursuit of its teaching, research and public service missions. Two years later, this dream began to become a reality when academic programs from the Davis, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara campuses of the University banded together to create an academic center in Washington D. C.

This academic center was conceived as a place where UC students could intern on Capitol Hill, within the Federal government, the news media, NGOs or other organizations, continue their academic coursework and otherwise sample the many opportunities available to them in the nation's capital including its vast library, museum and arts resources. Following upon this foothold, President Gardner put forward plans for the construction of a multi-story building in Washington D. C. owned by the University that would house its burgeoning academic and research programs as well as the Office of Federal Governmental Relations. This plan was subsequently postponed due to California's deteriorating budget situation during this period.

Over the next several years, though, the academic center blossomed with the addition of programs from Santa Cruz, Berkeley, San Diego, Irvine and Riverside and by the late '90s occupied an entire floor at 2301 M Street, NW. The students when not working at their internships or taking classes at the Center, lived in two residential hotels across the Potomac River in Virginia.

In the late 90's President Richard T. Atkinson, the 17th president of the University of California (1995-2003), revived development plans for the construction of a multi-story Center in Washington D. C. President Atkinson chose UCLA Chancellor Charles E. Young to lead the development of this renewed systemwide project. From the start, it was envisioned that the Center would greatly expand the range of courses offered in Washington to include almost the entire gamut of curricula offered by the University of California, everything from art history to engineering, political science to mathematics. This initiative was seen as an excellent opportunity to build upon the existing strengths of the University's academic program alreadyin Washington and its Office of Federal Governmental Relations to create a place for lectures, academic symposia and forums of educators, national policy makers and leaders. Subsequently, a construction site was selected and the purchase of land at 1608 Rhode Island Avenue, NW was approved by the University's Board of Regents.