The Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) is set to begin interior renovations next week on the historic Bell Tower Plaza, which it purchased last year. Once completed, the Plaza will serve as KCSOS’s signature professional learning and events center, with a grand reopening planned for next fall.
Kern County Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Mendiburu unveiled architectural renderings and the Plaza’s logo last night during the Kern County School Board Trustees Dinner, sharing his excitement for the project.
“This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Central Valley, and we are thrilled to have it,” Mendiburu said. “With interior improvements about to begin and our move-in date on the horizon, we can’t wait to bring this vision to life.”
The renovation will include a full remodel of the kitchen and restroom facilities, the addition of a hallway to improve access between the east and west wings, and the construction of new assembly areas on both the first and second floors. Existing interior spaces will receive new flooring, fresh paint, modern lighting, and upgraded audiovisual technology, along with a state-of-the-art HVAC system.
Despite the modern upgrades, KCSOS is committed to preserving the building’s historic charm.
“We will not change any elements that connect to the history of the building,” Mendiburu emphasized.
One notable addition will be the return of a bell to the iconic bell tower, restoring a piece of the Plaza’s heritage. Additionally, each breakout room will be named after past Kern County Superintendents of Schools, paying tribute to the leaders who have shaped education in the region.
KCSOS hosts hundreds of trainings, workshops, and meetings annually, supporting educators and community partners across Kern County. As demand for professional development has grown, KCSOS has outgrown its existing downtown gathering spaces.
“The Bell Tower Plaza is perfectly positioned to complement our neighboring facilities downtown,” Mendiburu said. “This new space will allow us to better accommodate professional development opportunities and provide flexibility for school districts and community partners seeking meeting spaces for their own staff development.”
With 46 school districts spread across Kern County—many with limited space for large gatherings—the new facility will serve as a much-needed centralized hub for professional learning and collaboration.
Architect Jeannie Bertolaccini with Ordiz-Melby Architects, Inc. works on plans for the Bell Tower Plaza.
KCSOS’s Bell Tower Plaza will feature two large professional learning rooms and numerous breakout and conference rooms.
A rendering of the Bell Tower Plaza’s largest conference room, which will be called the “Kern Room.” It once served as the First Baptist Church sanctuary, and was home to restaurants in more recent years.
The Bell Tower Plaza will be complete with conference and breakout rooms of various sizes.
The “District Room,” once home to a bank will provide a large space for professional learning.
A rendering of the first-floor assembly room, designed as a dynamic space where visitors can connect, collaborate, and recharge between professional learning sessions.
History & Architecture
In a 2016 Bakersfield Californian article, it was reported that the Bell Tower was by created by architect Charles Howatt Biggar, who designed the innovative steel-reinforced concrete building with 12-inch thick walls for a final budget of more than $100,000 during the Depression era, when laborers earned 50 cents per day.
The building, however, was built to last and survive a big earthquake and its aftershocks. It survived the earthquake of 1952 “without so much as a hairline crack,” according to reports from the Bell Tower Association in a letter to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 18, 1978.
The Spanish arches in its western portion are associated with the Mission Revival style of architecture, its Romanesque architecture is attributed to the sanctuary, and the 70-foot bell tower resembles the tower of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, built in the 13th century.
A rendering of the monument sign that will be installed on the corner of Truxtun and L St.
By Robert Meszaros
Rob Meszaros is Director of Communications for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, where he has served since 2012. In his role, Meszaros oversees media relations, internal and external communication strategies, publications, Marcom, branding, and multi-media content creation. Before joining KCSOS, Meszaros was the PIO for CSU Bakersfield and earlier worked for seven years at The Bakersfield Californian.