After a temporary stay in Capistrano Hall, the Sacramento State School of Arts has found a permanent new home in what is arguably the most recognizable and controversial office on campus.

The deep red tones of the walls and carpet that decorate the interior bleed out into the hallway on the third floor of the Mendocino building and make for a surprising contrast with the stark white walls that surround it.

“We felt it was important, because it?s the School of the Arts, that there be a strong aesthetic impression,” said the director of the school, Dr. Rollin Potter.

Lani Woods, assistant to Dr. Potter and a graduate of the UC Davis School of Design, was much of the driving force behind the new look by ultimately making the decision on what the new color would be.

“School of the Arts is going to make a statement,” said Woods. “We?re trying to get away from the typical institutional colors. We wanted something that was more alive and more warm.”

Along with the change of color and the construction of an interior and exterior glass wall has come suspicion that such a sensational redesign also comes with an increase in cost. According to Woods, the concern is understandable yet ensures that the costs were not increased by the effort to redecorate.

“It?s more of a statement of color than a statement of money,” Woods said.

“All the material used was the same standard industrial products used by everyone else, it?s just that we chose pretty dramatic colors,” said Woods.

Lee Anderson, Chair of the Sac State Design Department, and also involved with the project, came up with the ideas and drawings for reconstruction including the large glass panel that makes up the interior wall of Dr. Potter?s office.

“The money was the standard amount given to do an office space. It was a normal expenditure,” said Anderson.

According to Anderson, the school worked closely with Facilities Management and was careful not to exceed expenditures allocated to them over the six weeks it took to complete. “For those of us that are not designers it?s hard to envision how well these things (offices) can change,” said Potter.

As for the short glass wall on the outside of the office, “that was one of Dr. Anderson?s first ideas. He wanted people to see it when they got off the elevator.”

Potter added that much of the large wooden furniture was either brought over from the old office or left behind by the Arts and Letters staff that relocated to Mariposa Hall.

Additionally, students and faculty in the Arts Department donated most of the artwork in the office, which will be continually rotated out and replaced with new pieces over time, he said.

If you would like to take a closer look at the work or find out more information, contact the School of Arts at 278-ARTS.