Original administration building to reopen at FCC

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- For the first time in thirty years -- one of the oldest buildings on the campus of Fresno City College will reopen its doors.

Friday was a busy moving day for college administrators and soon, students will be moving in.

Carted from old offices-- boxes were moved into Fresno City College's original administrative building. Monday will be the first official day in the nearly hundred year old building.

"It's awesome. It's so pretty," Tammy Maddox said.

"To repoen it brings a real sense of pride," Fresno City College President Cynthia Azari said.

Built in 1916, intricate brick work forms long hallways supported by historic arches.

'All of these windows are original windows," Fresno City College Assoc Vice Chancellor Brian Speece said.

Windows, a glass ceiling, and original wood has been restored--however old classrooms received high tech upgrades--and will lend much needed space to the already overcrowded campus.

"There is definitely an urgent need," Azari said.

It took two years to restore this old library. When the renovations began imagine ivy covered walls, pigeons living in the ceiling, rodents and mushrooms growing through the floor.

"We found lots of things we didn't expect," Speece said.

"This was found in the wall itself."

"We found a 1915 Newspaper inside the wall from San Francisco... a pair of old shoes."

It took 6 months to remove harmful mold, asbestos, and lead which has delayed the opening of the auditorium.

Two of four wings in the building will open now, renovations on the second half will be complete in two years. Some funding for the project comes from a voter approved bond.

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