SRJC Tauzer Gymnasium

 A comprehensive modernization revitalizes Santa Rosa Junior College’s historic Tauzer Gymnasium, preserving the charm and legacy of a beloved campus landmark while establishing an inclusive, state-of-the-art facility for the Kinesiology, Athletics, and Dance Department.

Honoring a Campus Legacy

Completed in 1935, Tauzer Gymnasium became the third building constructed on SRJC’s Santa Rosa campus. The ivy-clad brick structure served as the home of Bear Cub basketball for 47 years and has steadily evolved to meet the needs of generations of students. Over the decades, the gymnasium has hosted physical education, gymnastics, wrestling, dance, assemblies, rallies, and even a trampoline room—added during the 1960s trampoline craze.

Named for Clarence “Red” Tauzer, an early advocate for SRJC athletics and member of the College’s first Board of Trustees, the building holds an important place in the history of both the campus and the surrounding community.

Renewed from the Inside Out

The modernization carefully preserves the building’s historic exterior while completely transforming its interior spaces and infrastructure. Comprehensive seismic retrofitting, along with new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology, security, and underground utility systems, elevate the nearly century-old facility to modern standards.

The former gymnasium has been reimagined as a modern wrestling venue, while renovated locker rooms, equipment distribution areas, and sports medicine spaces provide stronger support for SRJC’s student-athletes and 17 intercollegiate sports programs. The fitness center now features state-of-the-art equipment and improved training environments for students of all abilities and fitness levels.

Movement Without Barriers

Accessibility and inclusion were central to the transformation. A new elevator and rebuilt stairway enhance connectivity throughout the multilevel building, while the addition of all-gender restrooms and shower rooms offers greater privacy and flexibility.  Modernized locker and shower rooms for female students, athletes, and staff improve equity in campus athletics facilities.

Dedicated spaces for SRJC’s Adapted Physical Education program support fitness and movement classes tailored for students with disabilities. New classrooms, offices, and second-floor dance studios create modern environments for instruction, collaboration, and physical expression.

Extending Learning Outdoors

The former outdoor pool was decommissioned and replaced with a fully accessible outdoor teaching and exercise area. A new walking path, innovative training equipment, and a landscaped courtyard extend the KAD program beyond the building, fostering stronger connections to the surrounding campus.

A Sustainable Future

Tauzer Gymnasium’s modernization pairs historic preservation with exceptional building performance. The project has a predicted energy use intensity of 28.45 kBtu/sf/year, approximately 80 percent better than the baseline for physical education buildings. The result is a resilient and energy-efficient facility designed to serve SRJC students for generations to come.

Special thanks to our valued project partners: Alten Construction, ZFA Structural Engineers, CSWST2, Quadriga Landscape Architecture and Planning, Interface Engineering, Guidepost Solutions, Cumming Group, Skyline Engineering, SRJC Athletics, and SRJC KAD. Their expertise and collaboration were instrumental in bringing this transformative project to life.