Michael Sprague | The Legacy staff
Posted March 4 2014; 8:30 a.m.

Feature photo courtesy of Mary Ambler Archives, Lindenwood University.

This story is part of the “Names that built LU” weekly series issued by The Legacy that has been profiling 28 campus buildings named after Lindenwood personnel.

The J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts houses some of Lindenwood’s most up-to-date programs and equipment. Both the Bezemes Family Theater and LUTV studios can be found in the building that cost $32 million to build.

The project was completed in September of 2008, and in many ways, solidified the changes on campus that had been happening for more than a decade.

Hastings & Chivetta, the company that designed the Spellmann Center, Hyland Arena, Lou Brock Sports Complex and Hunter Stadium, continued their work with the college, designing the Scheidegger Center as well.

Jerry Scheidegger ultimately put forth $2 million for the naming rights to the building.

As a real estate executive and philanthropist, he calls St. Charles County his home, Scheidegger had ties to the university prior to his generous naming rights agreement.

Scheidegger joined the Lindenwood Board of Directors in 2004, and his daughter, Kelley, earned her MBA from the university in 1998.

Prior to his work with LU, Scheidegger found success with the company he founded in 1972, Corporate Group Inc.
Scheidegger also served as the chairman of the board for the company.

According to their website, Corporate Group, “specializes in commercial and residential real estate management, development, leasing and sales.” It makes sense that Scheidegger wanted his name prominently displayed on one of St. Charles’ finest performance buildings.

Scheidegger also received the Citizen of the Year award from the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce, joining many other building honorees to have received the award.