IN GRAND STYLE
The history of “Fresno’s Champion Skyscraper” dates back to the Roaring Twenties. Originally built in 1924 by the San Joaquin Power Company, which was bought out by PG&E shortly thereafter, The Grand Tower didn’t always function as it does today. Back then, it was the PG&E Building and remained so until the 1980s when the utility corporation moved their headquarters to its new location on Ventura Avenue. Over the years, it has remained a site of high significance in Fresno—an architectural landmark for the city, it is a beacon of the revitalization of Downtown Fresno and an overall excellent example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style.
R. F. Felchlin, a famed local architect and builder, designed and built the ten-story skyscraper, which began construction in 1922. Much like the Security Bank Building not far down the road, the Italian Renaissance Revival aesthetic was a popular choice for skyscrapers of that era. This can be seen in the designs implemented in major cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. Hailed as “Fresno’s Champion Skyscraper,” it held the title of tallest building in Fresno for only a year before being surpassed by the Security Bank Building (also known as the Pacific Southwest Building) in 1925.
The Grand 1401, as we know it now, began this latest chapter in 2005. It was purchased by Tutelian, a leading real-estate development and property management company in California with deep Central Valley roots. For Tutelian, investing in 1401 Fulton Street fit seamlessly with their business model; they have been a cornerstone of growth and expansion in Fresno for over 50 years. By now, they had become known for their passionate, loving, and detailed-oriented preservation and restoration of historical buildings throughout Fresno. Today, The Grand 1401 even serves as Tutelian’s headquarters.
Restoring the old PG&E Building to its former glory was no small task. Upon purchase in 2005, the skyscraper was quite run down. Cliff Tutelian, President of Tutelian Commercial Development, wanted “to preserve the history as much as possible.” They spent a year researching and studying the building’s original construction before a total renovation commenced.
Whenever possible, companies with hands-on experience relevant to specific projects were sourced. Hardware and fixtures were refurbished, instead of being replaced, as often as possible. And when something did need to be replaced, Tutelian would go above and beyond to be period-correct and replicate the parts accordingly. The HVAC, electric, and plumbing was restored while keeping much of the original components and pieces in place. In this regard, new infrastructure was put in place, including a computer managing system, to address outdated mechanisms such as the heating, cooling, and security systems. Next, The Grand is getting ready to update the elevator interiors.
This new chapter begged for a new name, too. The grandeur of the building, even during construction, could not be denied. The challenge of coming up with a new name for this latest project was quite daunting until inspiration made itself quite evident; since the building was so grand, it would be called “The Grand.” “The Grand Tower” name distinguished the building as its own entity.
Yet the function of The Grand 1401 is more diverse than most realize. The Grand Tower serves as a cornerstone of the revival of Downtown Fresno. Its dedication to the National Register of Historic Places has guaranteed the building’s survival while also bringing businesses and people to the area. Over 80,000 square feet of Class A office space functions as a home base for numerous small businesses with exceptional diversity. There, you will find businessowners in engineering, marketing, finance, security, photography, environment, political, radio, health foundation, tax, construction, and property management fields, to name a few.
The Grand Tower also boasts two gorgeous, fully restored ballrooms available for public use. The Grand Ballroom covers 12,000 square feet, and features extravagant ceiling-high columns, stunning chandeliers, detailed plaster molding, and original marble floors with mezzanine access for a perfect view of the ballroom below for up to 500 guests. On the building’s tenth floor, as the name suggests, The Grand on 10 has 5,000 square feet for 300 guests under the domed cascade ceilings, and offers an oversized stage, breathtaking cityscape views, floor-to-ceiling windows, and terrace access.
The Grand Ballroom on full display from the mezzanine at the 2022 Luxury Awards. A total of eight ceiling-high, original plaster pillars run the length of the room with chandeliers sprinkled between them, drawing the eye up and through the grandeur of the space.
CVLUX had the pleasure of hosting the 2022 Luxury Awards in The Grand Ballroom! Having a place with such sentimental pedigree as well as opulence in Downtown Fresno is truly a gift that must be utilized by as many as possible. Fresno holds a special place in Cliff Tutelian’s heart, and he’s eager to continue elevating the area so that it serves the City of Fresno for future generations. “I believe that all of the investments made by many landowners gives every owner the ability to make that contribution to downtown and be part of that community effort,” he shares. This is his life’s work, and Cliff is “happy and proud to have people that use and enjoy The Grand. It brings us great joy to serve the community. The more activities and events that we can cater to, the better. The future plan of The Grand is to cater to that future.”
For more information about The Grand 1401, please visit www.thegrand1401.com.
Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
Photographer Ellie Koleen
Photo courtesy of The Grand 1401
Ellie Koleen
Photographer
Ellie is a lifestyle, wedding, and brand photographer based in Fresno, California. An artist behind the lens, her trademark airy, light-filled style and masterful camera angles make her work easily recognizable. She uses her love for all things design related as inspiration for her work, and you can find her traveling any opportunity she gets to capture stories for her clients. Over the last four years, The Fresno Bee has named Ellie Best Photographer for the People’s Choice Awards.
