Chico State Grand Opening

CHICO – A grand opening ceremony was held to commemorate the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences building on February 4, 2025. The building is the newest and first Zero Net Energy building on the CSU Chico campus. Dean Ryan Patten was the emcee with remarks by Mechoopda Tribal member Dennis Remirez, President Perez, Provost Leslie Cornick, Danielle Martin-Spicer of AC Martin, and the BSS Student Senator and psychology major Tia Saunders.

Left to Right: Marie Patterson, Campus Sustainability Director; Jamie Brown, Turner Construction; Naoko Miyano, AC Martin; Ryan Patten, Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences; Jim Hull, Turner Construction; Danielle Martin-Spicer, AC Martin; Zachary Smith, Campus Architect; Steve Perez, Campus President; Randy Southall, AVP for Facilities Management; William Carey, Turner Construction

The 94,000-square-foot building houses nine academic departments, 22 classrooms, five laboratories, and a large, 130-seat tiered lecture hall, as well as faculty offices, conference space, breakout rooms, collaborative spaces, an indoor arboretum, and a coffee shop. The BSS Building is also home to the Community Legal Information Clinic and the Gender and Sexuality Equity Coalition.

“The new building was well worth the wait, and I encourage students from all majors to explore, study, and unwind in this vibrant and inspiring space,” said Chico State President Steve Perez. “It’s a remarkable architectural achievement that not only reflects our dedication to providing students with an incredible learning experience but upholds our longstanding leadership and commitment to sustainability.”

The building features a three-story volume designed to accommodate biophilic elements, such as abundant natural light and the integration of live trees. Its approval required a specialized permitting process, which was successfully secured through the diligent collaboration of the Turner/AC Martin design-build team and the State Fire Marshal. The mural displayed in the lobby is an original artwork created from a series of photographs capturing the seasonal transformations of the Big Chico Creek. In addition to its aesthetic value, the mural also serves a functional purpose by contributing to the acoustic mitigation of the expansive space.

Danielle Martin-Spicer, AC Martin

“Seeing the trees growing in the gallery and the Big Chico Creek from various vantage points in the building, to seeing the classrooms and study spaces full and the social spaces bustling – it makes me so happy” said Danielle Martin Spicer, AC Martin Principal. She also thanked her AC Martin teammates Naoko Miyano, Alex Ioda, and Derik Tom, stating that “They designed, detailed, and toiled at the construction site to ensure the project intent was never lost. We are indebted to them; they deserve all the credit!”

Consultant team included: RSC Engineering, Quadriga, Buehler Engineering, Glumac, Airco, Engineering Enterprise, Syska Hennessy, AES, Kathryn Marek, and Waveguide