Well, the weather gods have been favorable upon the construction project for the Rod Shippey Education Facility and Field Lab at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. Unfortunately the lack of winter rains has HREC standing at 50% of normal rainfall for the year ... which is not very good for range forage production.
Progress continues on the new building, with much of the framing and roof sheathing done. Today the "Cross Parallam roof beams" are being set into place over the entrance lobby area.
These cross beams will support an inverted roof that will collect rainwater runoff and allow it to "dump" off each end where it can be collected for gray-water usage. The building design incorporates sustainability, resulting in an integrated design approach that teaches about the virtues of environmental stewardship on a daily basis.
