The Fresno Metropolitan museum’s $28 million renovation project brought the historic 1922 Fresno Bee Building into the 21st century, with more accessible gallery space, new elevators and remodeled fourth and fifth floors. The museum’s fourth floor became a large gallery space that also serves as a forum for educational purposes and houses the Michaelis Classroom. The fifth floor became the home for the museum’s administrative offices and also holds a conference room and research library. The building underwent significant structural enhancements. The existing support columns consisting of steel reinforced concrete were enhanced in the basement and first floor. This project has won numerous awards, including the 2008 Historic Preservation Award from the City of Fresno, 2006 American Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the 2005 Progressive Architecture Award from Architecture Magazine.
