Gazette Journal building sold

The building at 401 W. Second Street, opened by Reno Newpapers Inc. on March 6, 1960, has been sold and will be torn down.

The Nevada Board of Regents approved the sale of the building, which was owned by the University of Nevada, Reno.

While housed in the structure, the Nevada State Journal and Reno Evening Gazette received the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. It moved to Second Street from offices in the 100 block of Center Street. Still later, the newspapers moved to Kuenzli Street. After the newspapers moved out of the Second Street building, it eventually became the home of Old College School of Law, founded by Cal Neva casino partner Warren Nelson. After Old College folded, the building—now named the Nelson Building—housed a variety of activities

There was some opposition to the sale. In a guest essay in the Reno Gazette-Journal, retired engineer Jerry Purdy wrote that the building serves many useful community purposes now, including hosting a Lifelong Learning Institute: “Many classes involve educational field trips to places like the TMWA Water Treatment plant or Burning Man. During the month of November 2016 there were 145 classes, many in the large Laxalt Auditorium located inside the Nelson Building, which is owned by UNR.”