Established in 1916, the Old Administration Building at Fresno City College is still standing strong to this day.
When the building was first finished, it had 201 rooms, 38 classes, 31 offices, and 12 laboratories. There was also a small library with a book capacity of 14,000. The size of the main building was and still is 460 feet by 266 feet.
According to a report in the article A Legacy Renewed, “The building was the first permanent structure on the Fresno State Normal School campus. In 1921, Fresno Junior College relocated to the site and shared the campus with Fresno State until 1948. Fresno City College purchased the campus and, from 1956 to 1976, utilized the classrooms, offices and auditorium in the building.”
Although there have been a lot of mixed emotions about the renovation of the Old Administration Building, there have been significant improvements pertaining to the technology that the rooms provide, how it affects the availability of courses, and the students comfort level in the new classrooms.
FCC student Michael Chatele is taking philosophy in the OAB building.
“I think it’s a great thing. I mean they renovated it and it seems like there’s a lot more room to make more classes that weren’t available before they renovated it,” said Chatele. “It’s not as primitive as the technology they have in the rest of the buildings in Fresno City. They have better projectors. They actually have decent chairs and stuff and the classrooms are bigger.”
Math instructor Tiffany Andrade is also happy with what she has seen in the OAB. The new technology in the OAB has helped her teaching experience.
“The features are really convenient to have; computers and projectors and everything are all enclosed and in one convenient area and the monitor is right there with the keyboard. We don’t have that in our other science building so that’s a benefit.”
Criminology instructor Bruce Hill had a different outlook on the renovation of the Old Administration Building. “The problem I really have and it’s one we often confront is that the school was essentially built for about fifteen, sixteen thousand students. We have at least twice that many,” said Hill.
Still Hill has benefited from the features in the OAB.
“Its been updated with all the electronics, so you don’t battle with competing systems that don’t work,” said Hill. “Students are taking pride in it. I think they feel better about their school and their classes because of the fact that their environment is pleasant and friendly.”
The Old Administration Building began renovation in the summer of 2007 and is almost complete. According to “A Legacy Renewed”, the total cost is about $65 million including the Measure E funds. The building has new classrooms, addition of two new elevators, an auditorium seating capacity of 650 students, The Community Room, (which is the former library) with the seating capacity of 160, and an overhaul of all plumbing, electrical and mechanical equipment.
“We essentially inherited this building,” said Hill. “It’s declared as being a historic landmark, so we couldn’t destroy it, the darn thing won’t burn down.”
