Storage facility receives facelift

The new Barkley Annex building is an extension of the facility now dedicated to the School of Education. What was once a storage warehouse now houses classrooms and a curriculum lab. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
The new Barkley Annex building is an extension of the facility now dedicated to the School of Education. What was once a storage warehouse now houses classrooms and a curriculum lab. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

by Amby Sarabia
Assistant Editor

The Barkley Annex, a small, but much needed additional classroom building, is now open for business.

Sitting right behind the Barkley Building, it has begun to meet the ever-growing demands of the expanding School of Education.

The new building, built in the 1930s, and originally a cabinet shop, was acquired by the University of La Verne in 1993.

Initially the University used it to lock up equipment belonging to the maintenance and operations department.

This summer, in preparation for the building’s transformation, maintenance was able to move the equipment out of the building and into a new space at its central depot.

As soon as the building was empty, the decision was made to turn the small building into another location where classes could be held.

“We envisioned doing it once we acquired the space,” said Brian Worley, director of facilities management.

During the summer, the building underwent a complete makeover with construction work on the exterior and interior, he said.

The decision to hold mainly education classes in the building was an easy one.

The growing program has a steady increase of students entering the education department.

“There was a 20 percent growth in teacher education last fall,” said Leonard Pellicer, dean of the School of Education. “The building will be heavily used.”

After working on the annex all summer, the building was ready to open in time for the start of school.

“It turned out very nicely,” President Stephen Morgan said.

“It also frees up classroom space for other classes and will have a positive impact,” Morgan said.

The revamped annex houses two classrooms, three offices and a curriculum lab.

The classrooms will soon become “smart classrooms” with the addition of computers and projection screens.

Although subjects other than education are taught in the building, the annex was reconstructed primarily for the needs of that department.

“They were overflowing in the Barkley Building,” Morgan said. “We succeeded in doing it.”

Amby Sarabia, Managing Editor
Amby Sarabia
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Reina Santa Cruz

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