The Levitt Center: A Home for University Advancement

PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ARCHIVES The Levitt Center for University Advancement opened in 1998 and sits on the northside of the University of Iowa campus.

Since opening in 1998, the Richard S. and Jeanne S. Levitt Center for University Advancement has served as the hub for fundraising and alumni engagement at the University of Iowa. Here’s a look at the facility’s history and the philanthropic support that helped bring it to life.

Why was the Levitt Center for University Advancement built?

By the early 1990s, the University of Iowa Foundation and University of Iowa Alumni Association—now united as the University of Iowa Center for Advancement—had outgrown its space in the Alumni Center/Museum of Art facility on the west banks of the Iowa River.

Following recommendations from UI Foundation president Darrell Wyrick (56BSChE, 57MS), the UI Foundation Board of Directors voted in 1992 to explore constructing a new building. In 1993, the Iowa Board of Regents approved the building site at Park Road and Riverside Drive, and the UI Foundation started planning for a new facility.

Construction crews broke ground on the new facility in late 1995.

Who designed the Levitt Center?

Architect Charles Gwathmey of New York designed the Levitt Center. His firm—now known as Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman Architects—partnered with Brooks Borg Skiles Architecture Engineering (now known as BBS Architects | Engineers) of Des Moines to bring the facility to life.

At 120,000 square feet, the building’s white aluminum, limestone, and glass exterior make a strong first impression on visitors. The four-floor facility features a three-story glass block rotunda—which glows across the campus skyline at night.

“Architecture should have a mystery—it should generate excitement and expectancy, as well as an exploratory atmosphere that invites people to come in,” said Gwathmey of the Levitt Center for University Advancement in a 1998 interview with the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Learn more about the Levitt Center’s architecture—as well as many other buildings on the Iowa campus—by reading The University of Iowa Guide to Campus Architecture from John Beldon Scott and Rod Lehnertz (02MBA).

When did the Levitt Center for University Advancement open?

PHOTO: University of Iowa Center for Advancement Richard and Jeanne Levitt

The dedication of the Richard S. and Jeanne S. Levitt Center for University Advancement was held on May 9, 1998.

The Levitt Center for University Advancement is named for Richard and Jeanne Levitt, both of whom graduated from the University of Iowa and have been ardent supporters of the university for countless years.

Who are Richard and Jeanne Levitt?

Richard Levitt (52BA, 54JD) is a two-time graduate of the University of Iowa, earning economics and Juris Doctor degrees. Jeanne Strauss Levitt (52BA) is a graduate of the School of Journalism.

While undergraduate students at Iowa, Richard and Jeanne met. They married in 1952 after Richard’s first year at the College of Law. After their time at Iowa, the Levitts moved to Des Moines where Richard joined Dial Finance—a company founded by his grandfather, Jacob Levitt, who emigrated from Lithuania to Iowa in 1884.

Richard served in a number of roles, becoming chairman and CEO in 1981. Following a merger with Northwest Corp. in 1983, Richard became vice chairman and later led relocation efforts for Northwest’s home mortgage operations—now known as Wells Fargo—to Des Moines.

Richard died in 2017.

Who were the top donors for the Levitt Center for University Advancement?

In 1995, Richard and Jeanne Levitt made a $2.5 million lead gift to spearhead the building of a new home for alumni engagement and fundraising.

The Levitt family’s connection to the University of Iowa spans more than a century. It started with Richard’s dad, Ellis Levitt, who enrolled at Iowa in 1911. Now that connection spans multiple generations.

“Generations of our family have been intertwined with the history of the University of Iowa,” said Richard before the building dedication in 1998. “We are honored the Levitt name will be affiliated with this project. Jeanne and I are pleased so many others have joined us in supporting this facility, making it one of the most attractive, efficient, and functional buildings on campus.”

Richard also volunteered his time to his alma mater—serving as a volunteer for the UI Foundation Board of Directors and the Iowa Law School Foundation. Because of his dedication to Iowa, Richard was selected as a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 1982. 

In recognition of the family’s generosity and long-standing relationship with the university, the Levitt Center is named in their honor.

What else has the Levitt family supported at Iowa?

The Levitts created the Richard Levitt Family Law Lectureship in 1997 at the College of Law. The family also has provided decades of support to the UI Stanley Museum of Art, UI Health Care, and more.

What kind of work happens at the Levitt Center for University Advancement?

Today, approximately 300 individuals work for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement—ranging from fundraisers to those who engage alumni and friends through meaningful events and outreach.

The Levitt Center also hosts dozens of events annually, including board meetings, donor recognition events, dinners and receptions honoring faculty and staff, and other activities that support the university.

Where on campus is the Levitt Center located?

Located at 1 W. Park Road, near the Dubuque Street exit from Interstate 80, the Levitt Center for University Advancement sits at the northern gateway to campus and is tucked along the Iowa River near Hancher Auditorium.