Plans put in Place for Demolition and Replacement of Davies Hall

Since its abrupt closure in 2023, Davies Hall has been a completely vacant structure seemingly left to crumble and decay in solitude. However, after nearly three years of the imposing brutalist style building sitting unoccupied and fenced off from the rest of campus, a plan has finally been set for construction of a new building. While the plan for a new building promises a space for displaced faculty and staff, many are concerned about the small size of the projected instructional spaces.

The Davies Hall demolition is scheduled for the summer of 2027, and occupancy of the new building is planned for the fall of 2029 according to American River College Public Information Officer Kaitlyn Collignon. 

When Davies Hall closed with little notice, students and staff were left stranded and confused. Denise Engler, an English professor, said in an interview with the Current that she learned about the decision the morning it took effect.

“I had the first class that day,” Engler said. “The dean called me on my cell phone on my way to school and said, ‘I just want to let you know that this is what’s happening.’”

Engler said faculty and staff were displaced across campus, and the English department was spread into multiple buildings. While she said administrators worked to accommodate instructors, the relocation required significant adjustments.

“It was hard,” Engler said. “I think I took Davies Hall for granted. It was really wonderful to have my colleagues there, my supervisor, the dean and the students. All of my materials were in my office.”

She described Davies Hall as a central gathering place for the department, with offices and classrooms located close to one another.

“It was a wonderful hub,” Engler said.

The plan for a new Davies Hall will give back a central space to the faculty and staff of the old building. Priority for space in the new building will be given to the Language & Communication, English, and People, Culture & Society departments, according to Colignon.

The new building will be placed in the same footprint as the old Davies Hall. Since the project is state-funded, some rooms and area types are predefined in order to maximize funding opportunities according to Sam Wolfgram, an architect from Lionakis working on the project. 

Faculty continue to discuss plans for a future Davies Hall in department meetings. Recent updates indicate the replacement building may face size limitations, raising questions about whether it will accommodate the department’s needs. 

Kristina Casper-Denman, an anthropology professor at ARC who was also moved out of Davies Hall, expressed concerns about classroom sizes. 

“Our promised classroom and lab room sizes are smaller than promised, and there is no clear communication about why this is happening. There are so many rumors and miscommunications,” Casper-Denman said in an email correspondence with the Current. 

According to a graph sent to the Current by Pablo Manzo, associate vice chancellor and facilities management, the new Davies Hall will be 60,500 total square feet, house 25 instructional spaces and 51 office spaces. However, Manzo says that these numbers may fluctuate slightly as the design for the final building progresses.