Nearly three dozen people — including University administrators and former and current Daily staff members — turned out for the official groundbreaking of The Daily’s new 5,000-square foot office yesterday morning.

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Masaru Oka

Lorry Lokey ‘49 removed a ceremonial pile of dirt from the ground at the site of The Daily’s new building at Panama Mall and Duena Street. The building is set to open in the fall of 2008.

The hour-long ceremony was a “symbolic but important step in The Daily’s long journey towards creating a 21st century news room where students can enjoyably learn the craft of journalism,” according to James Hohmann ‘09, a former Daily editor and a current member of the building committee.

The Daily’s new home will be located in a converted parking lot behind Old Union at Panama Mall and Duena Street. The structure, a two-story stand-alone building, is expected to be ready for move-in by fall 2008.

The building was designed by Cody Anderson Wasney architects, whose team includes Chris Wasney ‘80, a former Daily editor himself.

Former Daily editor Lorry Lokey ‘49 took a ceremonial dig of earth from the ground with a gold-plated shovel.

“For some, this has been nearly two decades in the making,” Hohmann said. “We’re almost there.”

Lokey has been instrumental in financial support for the new building, donating $2 million to the project as well as supporting a matching challenge in which he will meet all other alumni donations, up to $1 million.

According to The Daily’s Chief Operating Officer Julie Yen ‘07, of the $3.75 million budget for the project, nearly $3 million has been raised.

Lokey’s gift has been met with more than $200,000 of fellow alumni support. The Daily has pledged $200,000 of its revenue toward the project, and the Friends of the Stanford Daily foundation has promised $500,000.

That leaves approximately $450,000 thousand dollars in “critical gap,” a figure that The Daily is still seeking to raise, according to Yen.

The Daily’s need for a new space is prompted by two main concerns. One is the University’s future plans to expand Terman Engineering and relocate publications residing in Storke, The Daily’s current home. In addition, Yen noted concerns with the physical plant at Storke, including problems with last week’s rain storms.

“During the heavy rain, several roof tiles fell down, the business office flooded,” Yen said. “Things like that really highlight the need for a functional space.”

In the end, Hohmann said, yesterday’s groundbreaking and the “tremendous outpouring of support” made Monday “a very exciting moment in The Daily’s long and storied history.”