The Guarantee Savings G sign, originally a weather beacon, will be replaced with a replica by State Center Community College District. Photo by Estela Anahi Jaramillo

The iconic G sign at the top of the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) office will be removed for a replica sign to take its place. 

In the next few weeks, the sign will be removed to allow a replica sign to be designed, created and installed. The estimated completion date of the replica will be mid-2025. 

On Tuesday night, the SCCCD Board of Trustees approved a contract to remove the sign. The sign has no existing schematics. Removal will allow inspection and evaluation to reverse-engineer the sign. 

The building at 1171 Fulton Street opened in 1921 as the Mattei building, named after its owner, Andrew Mattei. In 1961, Guarantee Savings and Loan purchased the building and installed the 15-foot weather beacon on the roof of the building. 

The giant rotating G changed color according to the weather, and downtown workers and shoppers counted on the G for weather information as they strolled the Fulton Mall. Due to costs, the G went dark in 1994. Power was restored in 2003 but featured only white lights. 

SCCCD then purchased the former Guarantee Savings building in 2018, occupying the building until 2019 after some renovations.

When the District inspected the G sign, there were hopes it needed only minor repairs — replacing some rusted panels and the existing lighting system — but the sign was unsalvageable. It is held in place with thick wires, and the electrical system for the rotation and lighting no longer works. 

SCCCD said in a press release that the replica will honor the spirit of the past and comply with current structural design codes. 

The process requires redesign, materials testing, and other additional work. The new replica sign will have upgraded LED lighting to follow the current exterior building lighting schemes that change in recognition of commemorative events. 

“Knowing the historical significance of the building and the importance the G sign has to the downtown Fresno skyline, the District contacted the City of Fresno’s historic preservation committee for input and guidance. As work on the G Sign progresses, the District will keep the committee and the community updated,” said the press release. 

A replica replacement was also the solution for another Guarantee Savings and Loan architectural novelty in Fresno — the abacus statue at Ashlan and Blackstone avenues. The original abacus was removed during building maintenance in August 2021. 

A replica was installed in July.