The 1994 Northridge earthquake struck on January 17 and caused $ 400 million in damage to the campus , the heaviest damage ever sustained by an American college campus . The epicenter was less than two miles ( 3 km ) away on a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault . Later the same month , Vice President Al Gore visited with a promise of funds to help with the reconstruction . Entire sections of the main library , the art building and several other major structures were either physically unusable or too hazardous to occupy , but classes soon continued in alternative locations and hastily erected temporary facilities . Among the structures judged to be so seriously damaged that repair was not a practical option were the Fine Arts building , designed by noted modernist architect Richard Neutra , and the South Library , the oldest permanent building on campus . The art courtyard survived . Due to inadequate earthquake engineering , the parking structure next to the Matadome was completely destroyed . It is currently a grass field used for kinesiology instruction , though the driveway formerly used to enter it is still visible from Zelzah Avenue . As of August 22 , 2007 , the university had completed the rebuilding project
1994 Northridge earthquake
1994 Northridge earthquake
California State University, Northridge