Adventure 003, Site 043 – Old Fresno City Hall

Capture California, the Game-2013
Adventure: 003, Site 043 – Old Fresno City Hall
Local Registry ID: 49


Team: YOLT
Date:  September 5, 2013
Location:
Coordinates: 36.738212, -119.788906

Address: 2326 Fresno Street, Fresno

Description:
Date Built: 1939
Architect: Franklin and Krump



When we came to Fresno, this was the City Hall. We attended several City Council meetings in this building, discussing bikeways. So when we came by, Sherri asked, what is historic about this building, somewhat in disbelief. First, this International style building was part of the Museum of Modern Art tour of important buildings in 1944. The buildings needed to be depression-era buildings. Still, what made this note-worthy? The building has:

• internal ramps, eliminating the need for elevators,
  
• instead of fixed internal walls, they used partitions, and
  
• the City Council dias was built on a cantilever, which extended outside of the building.
  

All of these made for a new and novel approach to building. Not too bad for a farm town.



As a note: this is part of the New Deal Walking Tour



References:

• Guide to Historic Fresno
  
• Living New Deal
  
• Time Magazine 1944 Article
  

Overall Landmark References:

• Guide to Historic Fresno