---

– All Job Categories –  Accounting Admin & Clerical Automotive1 Banking1 Biotech1 Broadcast - Journalism1 Business Development Construction Consultant Customer Service Design Distribution - Shipping Education Engineering Entry Level Executive Facilities Finance General Business General Labor Government Health Care Hotel - Hospitality Human Resources Information Technology Insurance Inventory Legal Legal Admin Management Manufacturing Marketing Nurse Other Pharmaceutical Professional Services Purchasing - Procurement QA - Quality Control Research Restaurant - Food Service Retail - Grocery Sales Science Skilled Labor - Trades Strategy - Planning Supply Chain Telecommunications Training Transportation Warehouse

For many years, this community has been in the habit of tearing down our past, removing the artifacts that once defined Fresno and the Valley in favor of something -- anything -- that's new. [VIEW INTERACTIVE FEATURE]

But at least one success story emerges from this catalogue of shortsightedness: the Old Administration Building on the Fresno City College campus. The building has been saved, but it still needs the community's help.

Construction began in 1915 and opened the next year. It was the first permanent structure on what was then the Fresno Normal School campus, the predecessor of California State University, Fresno. It served generations of students, faculty and staff.

But the building was shuttered in 1976 because it didn’t meet the state's standards for earthquake safety in school buildings. It languished for years, falling into disrepair and decay. Administrators sought to demolish it to make way for newer, more modern — and less attractive — buildings. Preservationists and other supporters of the building fought to save it.

After dodging the wrecking ball on several occasions, a reprieve finally came when voters passed Measure E in 2002. Among the provisions of that bond measure was $30 million in funds for restoration of the Old Administration Building.

The cost of restoring the building to full use — about 100,000 square feet of classroom, office, research and meeting space — is around $41 million. Some of the difference will come from state funds, but the funding will still fall short of what’s needed.

An internal fundraising campaign, in which faculty and staff at the campus are asked to donate one hour’s pay each month to the cause, seeks to raise $1 million. But the project still needs to raise about $4 million locally.

That's where the community comes in. A vigorous fundraising effort is under way. It’s a very worthy cause. The building is an important part of our history, and now stands poised to serve an equally important role in our future. It deserves support.

Tell us what you think. Comment on this editorial by clicking the link at the top or bottom of the page.