San Francisco State University’s George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts, or “Marcus Hall” for short, is a state-of-the-art academic facility designed for innovative communication, collaboration, and engagement. The building is named after the University's largest donors and alumni George Marcus and Judy Marcus. Designed by the renowned architecture firm Mark Cavagnero Associates (MCA), the 75,000-square-foot building is the home of the Liberal & Creative Arts College’s Broadcast and Electronic Communications Arts (BECA) department. Marcus Hall, on Tapia Dr. and Font Blvd. on the San Francisco State University main campus, also houses the college’s dean’s office, related support services, and several classrooms. Completed in early 2021, it is the first new academic building to be built on the SF State campus in 25 years, and the first academic building named after University graduates in its history. Marcus Hall was built with a combination of public and private funding.
Marcus Hall will prepare future generations to lead and evolve the media landscape. Designed by MCA as a flexible learning and production environment which can be adapted to changing technologies, the four-story facility asserts the presence of media arts at the University. Located in a highly trafficked area of the campus, the building offers passersby views into its ground-floor television news studio, inviting the outside in. Marcus Hall is state of the art and a testament to the strength of the University’s Liberal & Creative Arts College (CLCA) and the BECA department.
The building balances both students’ needs and the diverse needs of the college and the BECA department. It facilitates collaborative learning environments, interstitial spaces, and places for students to work “alone together”, providing for both social and quiet study. The concrete-steel hybrid construction supports acoustics and limits vibration while carving out spaces for both large production studios and intimate labs. Glass lightens its sculptural form, inviting the campus in and creating a feeling of openness, while special windows also support acoustics.
The Herbst Foundation Entrance Hall
San Francisco State University is honored to receive a major grant from The Herbst Foundation in support of Marcus Hall. This generous donation, from a well-respected foundation that has funded many high-profile cultural and educational institutions in San Francisco, is an important milestone of community support and recognition of the University and the College of Liberal & Creative Arts (CLCA). As the portal to the campus and community, The Herbst Foundation Entrance Hall is a bright, welcoming space that informs visitors of activities in the building.
Defining the Future
Alumni and Donors George and Judy Marcus
George (B.A., ’65) and Judy Otten Marcus (B.A., ’62) are longtime supporters of San Francisco State University and its largest donors. In 2018, the Marcuses generously funded and established the $25 million George and Judy Marcus Funds for Excellence in the Liberal Arts (the Marcus Funds), which endowed two new faculty chairs in the Creative Writing Department and two in the School of Cinema in the College of Liberal & Creative Arts. The Marcus Funds also support the renewal of facilities and faculty and student research through the George and Judy Marcus Awards for Faculty and Student Research. This funding has been transformational – the college has grown its programs, raised its profile and level of excellence, and exponentially expanded faculty and student research awards across disciplines.
In recognition of the incredibly fruitful partnership with the Marcuses, and in honor of their steadfast dedication and support to the college, its students, and faculty, the California State University Board of Trustees has authorized San Francisco State University to name the new CLCA building the George and Judy Marcus Hall for the Liberal and Creative Arts or “Marcus Hall”. The Marcuses, who have enjoyed watching the blossoming of the CLCA programs they have funded, have accepted this designation and welcome this deepening of their relationship with the University, their alma mater.
College of Liberal & Creative Arts Funding Initiatives
Scholarships
Scholarships provide much-needed support to students to defray the cost of attending the University.
Ensemble-in-Residence (Alexander String Quartet)
The ASQ is a world-renowned chamber music group that provides artistic distinction to the College.
Documentary Film Institute
DocFilm connects students to professionals in the field and offers faculty development, forums, and exhibitions.
Longmore Institute on Disability
The Institute showcases the expertise, creativity, and value that people with disabilities bring to society.
The Queer Cinema Project
QCP connects academic, cultural, and political perspectives, fostering exchange between emerging and established filmmakers.