Renovated facilities for Art Department programs were reopened in 1994 and include a new addition to the building. The renovation added roughly 16,000 square feet of new studio and gallery space to the program. At the present time, the department facilities are comprised of 45,000 square feet designated for instructional purposes.
Each program emphasis in the department has a separate (set of) room(s) or studio(s) described in the Program Areas section of this site. The 1994 renovation significantly improved the facility. Some of the enhancements included a new 3800 square foot exhibition gallery; a new complex of classrooms for the Conceptual and Information Arts Area; a new slide room and a new seminar/department meeting space. All the studios were upgraded in various ways. Ventilation was improved in some studios, and a new dye facility was constructed for the Textiles studios. The Art Education room’s storage was improved, and Photography studios were expanded for color printing and alternative processes. New spaces were also constructed for Painting critique and storage along with an additional small painting studio. The indoor sculpture space was increased and designed for improved safety and efficiency; and all the ceramics studios were expanded. All kilns were brought into a newly designed centralized area. Glass and Art Metals are not offered as full emphases in the Art Department. However the facilities for elective courses in both areas were also improved in the renovation. The hot glass shop was brought indoors and a separate small cold glass room was added to the facilities. In the Art Metal shop, fully ventilated soldering stations and chemical work areas equipped for casting, fabrication and small hollowware were added.
Since the renovation, there have been further improvements to the facilities. A small number of new graduate studio spaces have been added to the program at the University’s Romberg Tiburon Center in Marin County across the Golden Gatidge. Operated year-round by the University as a 32-acre environmental field station and marine laboratory, the center now provides the Art Department an outdoor space on the bay for ceramic activities and an indoor graduate studio space for students in other areas. The studios are located in once-functioning Navy barracks and now serve as generous, remodeled airy spaces for graduate students. Nearby outdoors, a permanent, new scale soda kiln and pit-firing area for ceramics was also developed.
On the main campus, the Art History auditorium was remodeled in 2002. Visitors to the campus will also enjoy a varied selection of outdoor sculpture overseen in part by the Sculpture faculty in collaboration with the University's physical plant and grounds staff. The fine arts building houses the fine arts gallery and the Martin Wong undergraduate gallery. The fine arts gallery host two exhibitions every semester with the MFA thesis exhibition at the end of the spring semester. The Martin Wong undergraduate gallery hosts various exhibitions throughout the year specifically showcasing undergraduate works.
