The most esthetically innovative structure on campus.

By Curt Burgess

Southern view of Chaffey College Library, illustrating the Modernist architectural design. Sept. 2020, Rancho Cucamonga, CA / Photo by Curt Burgess

There are several attractive and innovative structures on the Chaffey College campus. The Center for the Arts, the Student Services & Administration Building and the Chaffey College Library come to mind. What makes the Library the standout structure on campus is the series of 11 pairs of rectangular concrete braces that creates a colonnade that partially covers a walkway that runs along the front of the building that can be seen from all the original Chaffey College campus.

Chaffey College, then known as the Chaffey College of Agriculture and part of USC, was originally located in Ontario in 1883 and was founded by George and William Chaffey. Groundbreaking for Chaffey College, at its current site in Rancho Cucamonga, was in 1958.

The architectural firm of Austin, Field & Fry developed the master plan for the campus that would include 12 buildings. However, the buildings that made up the Chaffey College Historic District were built in 1959 only included the Library, Social Sciences, Language Arts and Business Education Buildings and were designed by the architectural firm Harnish & Fickes, as reported in the Draft Cultural Resources Report by ASM Affiliates in April 2021.

The Library was the anchor of the Master Plan, but in 1994, is no longer considered to be part of the Chaffey Historic District. There were major structural additions made to the Library to accommodate campus growth and enhance the visual aesthetic of the building. The reading room, and several additional instructional rooms, were substantial additions. The series of rectangular concrete braces is the design element that creates a colonnade and obscures the original south facade and the original single-story wing as reported in the Chaffey College Historic District document by ASM Affiliates, Inc. in April 2022).

The original design, as well as the 1994 addition, is indicative of a mid-century modern architectural design, according to David Plouffe, Adjunct Professor of Art History. Mid-century modern design is characterized by clean lines, simplicity and muted tones and was popular after World War II when American society preferred a simpler, less ornate approach to life.

The war had a tremendous impact on architectural style, since in many countries entire cities had been demolished. According to the Getty, scientific innovation and the need to rebuild from scratch meant new materials such as concrete, mass-produced glass and steel were utilized. This jump started this new approach to building that fulfilled the public need.

While this destruction of the landscape was avoided in the United States, the architectural principles were welcomed from a practical and an esthetic point of view. The more ornate styles that relied on using brick, stone and wood were largely abandoned.

The Chaffey College Library is an innovative example of Modernist architectural design in its original 1959 design, and this design approach was followed in the 1994 renovations. The library serves as the nerve center for a college campus, serving both as a repository of knowledge and a gateway to knowledge. Our campus is fortunate to have a building that lives up to its importance.

Modern architectural design of the Chaffey College Library