FULLERTON, CA — C.W. Driver Companies, a builder serving California since 1919, has completed an 85,400-square-foot renovation and new construction combination project for California State University, Fullerton’s (CSUF) Visual Arts Complex. The $59.8 million project includes the renovation and seismic upgrade of existing buildings, a new education building containing digital fabrication and arts facilities, and a new gallery building hosting professional and student galleries and a research library, along with a full reworking of the outdoor spaces.
The Visual Arts Complex, positioned along State College Boulevard, is a primary campus entrance. The buildings are configured to create an open, flexible environment to support engagement and visibility to the greater community. The design of the outdoor spaces includes myriad spaces for outdoor arts production and presentation and a diverse set of areas for student gatherings.
After considering a site geotechnical analysis and initial cost studies, the project team advised CSUF to pivot from the original construction plan, recommending minimizing renovation work and maximizing new construction, building two new structures instead of the original plan for one.
“We collaborated with CSUF and HGA Architects to reallocate the budget into renovating the two existing buildings requiring minor seismic upgrades, building the new single-level double volume gallery space, and building a new two-story classroom structure,” said Jamie Macartney, Project Executive at C.W. Driver Companies. “This shift redistributes the art program across several different buildings, aligning with the Visual Arts program’s goal of finding concentrated homes for each department.”
Delivered and constructed using the collaborative design-build process, cost tracking and efficiency were key design drivers. The interiors and exteriors of each building were designed with neutral, durable finishes, emphasizing the concept of the buildings being “blank canvases” for the arts programs. This cost-efficient approach allocated more funds to go toward program and equipment for the school.
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The Visual Arts Campus received the 2022 American Institute of Architects Orange County Design Award of Merit, Commercial Unbuilt. Designed to LEED Silver equivalence, the campus supports CSUF’s sustainability efforts.
