A student walks by the current broadcast wing of the Creative Arts building Monday, March 3. Photo by Tony Santos / Xpress
The Creative Arts Replacement Building project, which has been on hold since 2008, could get the green light this fiscal year if CSU legislatives approve the budget for the major capital project.
“Nobody likes a capital project being postponed like this,” said Marilyn Lanier, senior associate vice president for physical planning and development. “But, we all see how importance of having a new, state-of-the-art, efficient building that meets all codes.”
According to Lanier and President Wong, additional state bonds that would help fund these types of projects, were suspended due to the 2008 economic recession. Since Legislatures have yet to approve the project, construction days are still unknown.
The project is partially funded by a $10 million gift from Manny Mashouf, an SF State alumni. According to Robert Nava, vice president for University advancement, they are in preliminary conversations with the Mashouf Family, and information about how their gift will be used in the project is currently unavailable.
According to Michael Maltzan Architecture, the firm designing the new building, the entire 242,000sf compound will cost an estimated $146 mil.
Renovation consists of four phases, each of which will focus on different departments within the building. The entirety of the project will take place at two separate times, at two different locations.
Phases one and two will move the broadcast and electronic communication arts and theatre arts departments to new locations in the Tapia triangle, across from the current Creative Arts and Humanities buildings. Additionally, a 1,200-seat theatre will also be constructed in phase one.
During construction, residents of the 24 occupied apartments in the Tapia triangle, that are apart of Park South housing, will be evicted.
Phases three and four will move the music and dance department and the performing arts theatre to the West Campus Green area, behind The Village at Centennial Square on Font Boulevard.
“Placing the Creative Arts replacement buildings on the Tapia Triangle and West Campus Green creates a unified zone and clear identity for the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, with all these departments located together,” said President Wong.
According to the CSU Five-Year Capital Improvement Program of 2014/2015 through 2018/2019, the total amount requested for this year towards the project is $1,704,000. The Creative Arts Replacement Building is placed 17th on the State Funded Priority List of 32 major capital projects for all state universities.
Plans of overhauling the Creative Arts building appear in the CSU’s improvement plans as early as 2006, though due to funding issues, the project may still be postponed until 2015/2016.
With the limited amount of state funding for this project, Lanier suspects no physical construction will begin until 2018/2019.
