MMA Architecture > Projects > The Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield Californian Building, originally constructed in 1926 as the headquarters for The Bakersfield Californian newspaper, stands as a landmark of early 20th-century architecture in downtown Bakersfield. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the four-story, 56,500 SF building embodies a blend of Late 19th and 20th Century Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival styles.

MMA was brought on to reimagine the building’s interior while respecting its historic character. The scope included a renovation of the main lobby, the creation of new office suites, and a broader tenant improvement effort. The design takes a modern-classical approach—introducing contemporary materials and functionality while preserving the building’s timeless architectural details. The result is a renewed presence for a Bakersfield icon, ready to serve the next generation of tenants and visitors.

Client Name: Harrell Holdings
Location: Eye Street Downtown Bakersfield

  • This image showcases the historic Bakersfield Californian Building, originally built in 1926 as the headquarters for The Bakersfield Californian newspaper, a significant landmark of early 20th-century architecture in downtown Bakersfield. The photograph highlights the four-story, 56,500 SF building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, embodying a blend of Late 19th and 20th Century Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival architectural styles. The image emphasizes MMA Architecture's role in reimagining the building’s interior while honoring its historic character. The view may include the renovated main lobby, examples of new office suites, and tenant improvement efforts, reflecting a modern-classical design approach that introduces contemporary materials and functionality while preserving the building’s timeless architectural details. This project exemplifies our firm's expertise in historic building renovation and adaptive reuse, demonstrating our ability to renew iconic structures for the next generation of tenants and visitors while respecting their architectural heritage.
  • This image showcases the historic Bakersfield Californian Building, originally built in 1926 as the headquarters for The Bakersfield Californian newspaper, a significant landmark of early 20th-century architecture in downtown Bakersfield. The photograph highlights the four-story, 56,500 SF building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, embodying a blend of Late 19th and 20th Century Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival architectural styles. The image emphasizes MMA Architecture's role in reimagining the building’s interior while honoring its historic character. The view may include the renovated main lobby, examples of new office suites, and tenant improvement efforts, reflecting a modern-classical design approach that introduces contemporary materials and functionality while preserving the building’s timeless architectural details. This project exemplifies our firm's expertise in historic building renovation and adaptive reuse, demonstrating our ability to renew iconic structures for the next generation of tenants and visitors while respecting their architectural heritage.
  • This image showcases the historic Bakersfield Californian Building, originally built in 1926 as the headquarters for The Bakersfield Californian newspaper, a significant landmark of early 20th-century architecture in downtown Bakersfield. The photograph highlights the four-story, 56,500 SF building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, embodying a blend of Late 19th and 20th Century Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival architectural styles. The image emphasizes MMA Architecture's role in reimagining the building’s interior while honoring its historic character. The view may include the renovated main lobby, examples of new office suites, and tenant improvement efforts, reflecting a modern-classical design approach that introduces contemporary materials and functionality while preserving the building’s timeless architectural details. This project exemplifies our firm's expertise in historic building renovation and adaptive reuse, demonstrating our ability to renew iconic structures for the next generation of tenants and visitors while respecting their architectural heritage.