On Sept. 16, Cal State Fullerton’s visual arts complex was honored with an Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Built Environment by Arts Orange County at its 25th annual Orange County Arts Awards. Arnold Holland, dean of the College of the Arts, accepted the award.
ArtsOC is the independent nonprofit arts council for Orange County dedicated to sustaining, strengthening and advancing the creative ecology of the region. Designated by the county as its official local arts agency, it is a leading advocate and service provider for the arts and arts education in the community.
Completed in 2024, the visual arts complex modernization project added two new buildings to the campus, including the College of the Arts Galleries; provided major renovations to existing buildings; and added state-of-the-art creative spaces to train the next generation of artists and innovators.
The complex now boasts more than 85,000 square feet of new and renovated space, including classrooms for digital art concentrations, graduate art studios, upgraded lecture halls, new faculty offices, indoor and outdoor seating, and unique specialized facilities such as a green screen/motion capture room, photography wing, digital fabrication lab, and drawing and painting studio.
Cal State Fullerton was the only university recognized at this year’s ceremony, which included honorees Bin He (Outstanding Artist), Genevieve Williams (Emerging Arts Leader), Jorge Dubin (Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award – Visionary Artist), and special recognition of ArtsOC retired president, Rick Stein, who led the organization from 2008 until this past June.