McCarthy Hall Renovation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020040154
Public Agency
California State University, Fullerton
Document Title
McCarthy Hall Renovation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/14/2020
Document Description
McCarthy Hall comprises a six-story main building with an attached but code-approved separate adjacent building. An elevated pedestrian bridge that spans the campus bike path connects McCarthy Hall's west wing and the Performing Arts Center to the north. McCarthy Hall houses number of teaching laboratories and faculty offices affiliated with the university's science programs, including, among others, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Natural Science/Life Science, Mathematics, and Business Management. Constructed in 1963 of reinforced concrete, McCarthy Hall has not previously undergone comprehensive modernization.
See NOE for Full Details.
Contact Information
Name
Emil Zordilla
Agency Name
California State University, Fullerton
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
California State University. Fullerton
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Fullerton
Counties
Orange
Other Location Info
McCarthy Hall is located on the California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) campus in the eastern part of the _City of Fullerton, California. The main CSUF campu~ encompasses 240 acres and is bounded by Yorba Linda Boulevard to the north; Nutwood A venue to the south; State Route 57 (SR 57), the Orange Freeway, to the east; and State College Boulevard to the west. McCarthy Hall is located in the southern half of the CSUF campus within the academic core and is generally bordered by the campus quad, a bike path, and the Joseph A. W. Clayes III Performing Arts Center to the north, Dan Black Hall on the south, the campus bike path on the east, and the campus central plant complex on the west.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061(b)(3). Common Sense Exemption
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to the State CEQA Guidelines § 15061 (b )(3), a project is exempt from CEQA if it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. This "general rule" or "common sense" exemption applies to projects that do not fit within a statutory or categorical exemption, but where it can be clearly demonstrated that the project has no potential to have significant environmental effects. The proposed renovations to McCarthy Hall are predominantly interior in nature, with limited exterior improvements. Project implementation will serve to ensure the building meets current building code requirements and improve building accessibility and energy efficiency. Proposed construction will take place entirely within the CSUF campus, confined to McCarthy Hall and its immediate exterior hardscape and landscaped areas. For these reasons, project construction and operation are determined to not result in any potentially significant direct or indirect environmental impacts, and therefore the project qualifies for the common sense exemption.