Following a major renovation, the National Landmark Historic Old Administration Building at Fresno City College has reopened and been returned to its former glory. An exemplary work in historic preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation, the project has been honored with awards from the California Preservation Foundation, AIA San Francisco, AIA East Bay, and the California Community College Facility Coalition (CCCF). The project has also been featured in Architectural Record.
Classes are in session for up to 2,000 students in the 110,000 sf building, and performances are currently held in the 660-seat auditorium. With the first phase completed in January 2011, the final phase of the renovation was completed in time for Fall 2012 classes. Originally built in 1916, the Historic Old Administration Building was the first permanent structure of the Fresno State Normal School for teacher training, later Fresno State College, and is now the iconic center of the Fresno City College campus. The unreinforced masonry building had not been in use for over 30 years since 1975. After a local bond was passed in 2002, ELS rehabilitated and adapted the building into an education facility with classroom space, a performance theater, faculty offices, and community spaces.