San Francisco State University held a dedication ceremony today honoring the opening and naming of the new George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts, the University’s first new academic building in 25 years. Named after San Francisco State alumni George Marcus (B.A., ’65) and Judy Marcus (B.A., ’62), who are donors of the largest gift to SF State in University history, the dedication honors their stalwart support of SF State and the liberal and creative arts.
“George and Judy supported us but they’ve also challenged us to use the funds to ensure that our programs be models of excellence that attract the best faculty and the best students,” SF State President Lynn Mahoney said at the ceremony. “I have seen quite clearly that their support for San Francisco State is incredibly deep and enduring.”
Marcus Hall is a four-floor, 75,000-square-foot facility for the media arts designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates (Cavagnero). The building is the new home of the Broadcast and Electronic Communications Arts (BECA) Department and offers a dynamic learning environment with multidisciplinary classrooms and intuitive workflow media production spaces.
At the ceremony, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Senator Scott Wiener and more gave remarks recognizing the significance of Marcus Hall. SF State Dean of the College of Liberal & Creative Arts Andrew Harris also spoke about how the building will prepare future generations to lead and evolve the media landscape by providing students with leading-edge technology.
Marcus Hall and its advanced facilities further underscore the strength of the BECA program and the College of Liberal & Creative Arts. Highlights of the building include:
- Two multistory 4K-capable television studios, with extensive control rooms, green screen capability and motorized LED lighting
- A high-definition broadcast news studio with a news anchor desk and robotic cameras
- A sound design studio with superb acoustics for recording, mixing and mastering in surround sound; capable of ADR, SFX editing and audio restoration
- The KSFS-FM broadcast student radio station, which allows livestreaming with a multipurpose radio room accommodating small group performances
- Multimedia digital editing suites and classrooms with flexible seating, with a range of different-sized rooms to accommodate a variety of instructional arrangements
- A 100-seat media presentation room, which can be used for high-video production, lecture presentations and distance-learning
- The dean’s office for the College of Liberal & Creative Arts
- Interspersed multidisciplinary classrooms for use by the whole University
Cavagnero’s design for Marcus Hall balances the use of glass, steel and concrete. Maximizing open and flexible space, accessibility and transparency, the new hybrid structure is the latest example of Cavagnero’s designs that fosters creativity and collaboration by encouraging connection between students and faculty.
“Marcus Hall provides a range of versatile spaces to spark innovation and collaboration, with state-of-the-art technology,” Cavagnero founder and Principal Mark Cavagnero said. “I hope this new building inspires students and provides them with a space to learn, experiment and create.”
The building’s amenities are strategically designed to ensure that the University and its students remain at the forefront of technological innovation and leadership. It was also designed in accordance with SF State’s commitment to sustainable development using recycled, renewable and durable materials.
Funding for Marcus Hall comes from the Herbst Foundation and state support. For more information about the building, visit the University Development website.
— Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications