Fresno Bee Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fresno Bee Building
|
|
 |
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1555 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, California |
|---|---|
| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Leonard F. Starks |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000964 |
| Added to NRHP | November 01, 1982 |
The Fresno Bee Building is a historic 5-story building in downtown Fresno, California. It was built in 1922 by architect Leonard F. Starks. This building was originally home to The Fresno Bee newspaper, where they printed the news and had their offices.
Contents
A Building's Story: From Newspaper to Museum
Early Changes and Growth
The building changed a lot over the years. This was normal as the newspaper grew and printing technology improved. In 1936, a new part was added. This addition helped make space for a bigger engraving department and a studio for the radio station KMJ.
Big Renovations and a New Entrance
Even bigger changes happened in 1951. A new entrance wing was built, along with a special room for the printing presses. These updates helped the newspaper keep up with its growing needs.
From Newspaper to Museum
In 1975, The Fresno Bee newspaper moved out. The building was empty for many years. But then, from 1981 to 1984, people in the community worked hard. They raised over $5.5 million to open the Fresno Metropolitan Museum inside the building.
The museum first opened on April 8, 1984. In August 2005, the museum started a big inside renovation. It reopened on November 13, 2008. This $28 million project updated the old building for the 21st century. It added more accessible gallery space, new restrooms, and elevators. The fourth and fifth floors were also remodeled. The building's structure was made stronger, especially on the west wall.
Sadly, on January 5, 2010, the museum closed. It could not pay for the renovations and daily operations. The City of Fresno then became the new owner of the building.
What's Inside Now?
The Fresno Bee building was empty again until April 13, 2012. That's when the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) moved in. CMAC is a TV station that provides public, educational, and government access to media. They set up their station on the second floor.
CMAC built a 900 square foot television studio. This studio uses space from both the second and third floors. They also created classrooms and office spaces. As of February 2018, the fifth floor and part of the first floor are used by the Fresno Football Club.
.jpg)
