The Rod Shippey Education Facility and Field Lab is a long-time dream that is rapidly becoming a reality. Currently under construction (see photo below), the 5139-sq.ft. building is designed as a friendly, open place that relates to the unique natural landscape and climate of the region. Slated to be finished by fall of 2012, the building includes a main meeting room to accommodate up to 275 people, lab space for visiting researchers, and a museum room for housing the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center's vertebrate and plant collections.
From the building's inception, the goal was to design a facility with low energy requirements that make maximum use of on-site renewable energy and climate-responsive design strategies. It will serve the needs of the entire North Coast community, allowing county-based UC Cooperative Extension advisors and 4-H leaders, campus-based faculty, and other educators to offer programs that meet the needs of people throughout the region.
You will be "hearing" more about this exciting facility in future blog posts.
