Renovations underway at MBBS

Fresno, Calif.

The first major renovations since the 1960s are under way at the familiar administration building at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. Quiring Corporation of Fresno is doing the renovations, which will:

* Expand a women's restroom and add a men's restroom to the first floor to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act,

* Close two second-floor porch areas, add a new hallway, and add a new fire escape to comply with fire codes,

* Expand a first-floor workroom and remove an unused kitchenette area, and

* Expand one second-floor office.

The building was constructed in 1916 as the home of Wylie M. Giffen, one of Fresno County's prominent leaders in the grape and raisin industry. He lived in it less than 10 years, because of his financial downturn, according to Kevin Enns-Rempel, archivist with the Center for MB Studies in Fresno. The original cost of the mansion is not known, although it was purchased in 1927 by Lora A. Pratt for $25,000 US.

It was owned by several others before becoming the home to MBBS in 1956. The Seminary opened in 1955 at Pacific Bible Institute in downtown Fresno. PBI eventually moved just south of the Seminary and later became Fresno Pacific University.

The style of the MBBS Administration Building, designed by Henry F. Starbuck, is generally described as "Elizabethan country style." It housed the entire seminary operation in 1956, including classrooms, offices, chapel, library and the home of the original seminary president B.J. Braun and his family. Over the years, MBBS has added a library (1962) and prayer chapel (1966), both shared with FPU, apartments (1969), an office/chapel building (1970) and a classroom/lounge wing (1982).

The current renovations are expected to be completed sometime in March, and cost about $60,000 US, according to Linda Bowman, executive administrator.

MBBS release

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