Students who’ve been at Chabot College for the past few years may have noticed the overwhelming amount of renovations occurring at any given moment as facilities are modernized with funds gathered from Measure B. The latest in this new round of reconstruction will result in the closure of building 1200, where classes have already been rerouted and starting in October, the building will be cordoned off to the public.
Thanks to the elimination of the major hallways that intersected the building, more rehearsal and band classrooms will be added to the building’s plan. The savings in space will allow for more rooms and added space for the Jazz and the Band room, where space will be almost doubled. The Lecture and Recital hall at the end of 1200 will upgraded with newer tech and newer decorations. The Piano room will also benefit from these rearrangements, the current room is much too small for smaller pianos and the new one will be able to hold spaces for up to 30 pianos.
A new, modern recording studio will be added in a new extension to the building that will be built in part of the loading dock parking lot. It’ll be a completely new building, says School of the Arts Dean Gary Carter and the school plans on bringing industry artists to record there so students can get industry experience.
The Little Theater will also finally get its own lobby and dressing rooms for actors performing on stage.
“This is a dramatic and drastic improvement for our music students,” says Carter.
But classroom modernization isn’t the only big thing coming to building 1200. As part of a campus wide art installation, a new human quilt piece will be installed on façade of the Little Theater entrance. It’s part of a 10 piece set going up around Chabot, and one of three winners chosen by the campus to be displayed under a new public art initiative.
“The work of art is called ‘Homecoming’”, says Zuliani. “But it won’t happen right away because the construction is going to block off access. That’ll be one of the later pieces to be installed.