The Rod Shippey Educational Facility and Field Lab is well underway at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. After a bit of a delay due to cold, freezing weather that stalled the main concrete pour, the contractor is going strong and the building framing is well underway.
We had some success as far as getting materials donated to the cause ...such as all of the wood stain material by Performance Coatings Inc. with their "Verde-line" of environmentally-friendly wood finishes, the concrete stain for the floor by DuckBack Products, and a quarter of the recycled Douglas fir posts by North Cal Wood Product, Inc. We also have some dollar donations by individuals.
Envisioned is a building that, in itself, will be a teaching tool. The building design incorporates sustainability, resulting in an integrated design approach that teaches about the virtues of environmental stewardship on a daily basis. Also envisioned are varied outdoor spaces, nature trails, interpretive displays, and an outdoor "donors wall" that we are still pursuing private funds to help become a reality.
You can follow the construction web-cam at http://ucanr.org/sites/Rod_Shippey_Facility/The_constrcution_schedule/ for a every-ten minute update photo. (Sorry ...no auto-link here ... you will have to type it into your browser)
