[nagdu] FW: Announcing plans to renovate GDB's California campus

Jonathan Lyens jonathan at lyens.com
Fri May 28 03:01:58 UTC 2010


Thought folks would find this interesting.

 

Best-

 

Jonathan

 

Jonathan T. Lyens MPA 

Email: jonathan at lyens.com 

Fax: (321) 256-8896 

Skype: jlyens 

________________________________

From: GDB Alumni Association [mailto:tduncan at guidedogs.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 11:12 AM
To: Jonathan Lyens
Subject: Announcing plans to renovate GDB's California campus

 

Greetings GDB Alumni!

I have some very exciting news to share with you. After several years of
planning, GDB will be embarking on a renovation of our San Rafael campus
starting in April 2011! For those of you who have attended a class here
recently you know that our dorm, which has served us so well over the
past several decades, is really showing its age. I personally have had
the privilege to work closely with the team who is designing our new
campus and with input from your fellow grads who serve on the Alumni
Association Board of Directors, I am confident that this new design will
meet the needs of students, staff, volunteers, and community members for
many, many years to come.

Please see below the press release we have prepared to announce this
exciting new venture!

All the Best,
Theresa Duncan
Alumni Association Director
Guide Dogs for the Blind

+++

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2010

GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND UNVEILS NEW CAMPUS DESIGN
Design by Starkweather Bondy Architecture Receives Final Planning
Commission Approval

San Rafael, California--Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), a non-profit
serving people who are blind or visually impaired throughout the United
States and Canada, has unveiled the new design of its headquarters.
Located on the site of its existing 11-acre campus in San Rafael,
California, the new facilities designed by Starkweather Bondy
Architecture received final planning approval on April 27.

Founded in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides Guide Dogs and
training to nearly 350 individuals annually and supports a community of
2,200 graduates. After 68 years of operation, the non-profit
organization sought to build a new campus that better supports its
students as well as the organization's community education mission.

Starkweather Bondy reorganized the campus in anticipation of the future
SMART rail line, moving the Student Residence Building to the quieter
north edge of the property, with a further buffer provided by the
location of parking and the Welcome Center.

Nestled in a stand of redwoods, the Residence Building is the heart of
the campus for Guide Dog students. Nineteen private suites set around a
courtyard with an enclosed area where dogs can play off leash support
the guests' training. Classrooms along with a dining room and lounge,
which open to a second courtyard, complete this unique living/learning
environment.

The Welcome Center includes a small multi-use auditorium (a sheltered
space for graduations and dog training in inclement weather), an
interpretive center and administrative offices. The Event Plaza, a
multipurpose landscaped commons set between the two main buildings,
further expands the campus' capacity for social, educational and
community activities.

The buildings' folding forms and simple materials merge with the
landscape, creating a serene and comforting setting that fosters
learning. Deep roof overhangs, layers of glass, and day-lit corridors
provide transparency and natural ventilation. The project will be built
to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design silver standard.

GDB President and CEO Nancy Gardner said, "We will be celebrating our
organization's 70th anniversary of service with a vision for the future.
By providing a modern learning environment for our students and
enhancing our community education programming, the new campus represents
an exciting chapter in the growth of our organization and will allow us
to continue the legacy of our mission for years to come."

Groundbreaking for the new campus is slated for Spring 2011; it is
expected to open in Fall of 2012. The organization's operations will
continue during construction. For more information, visit
http://www.guidedogs.com/renovateCAcampus
<http://www.guidedogs.com/site/R?i=XbpRSpxnjHt1FnohT3SqGg..> .

About Starkweather Bondy Architecture
Starkweather Bondy Architecture is an architectural, interiors and
planning firm located in Oakland, California. The firm was established
in 2001 by Phred Starkweather and Bill Bondy with a commitment to
creating inspiring buildings and spaces for community-serving
institutions. A leader in the design and planning of educational
facilities, Starkweather Bondy Architecture's diverse portfolio includes
theaters, recreational facilities, libraries, and classroom buildings,
as well as commercial offices and custom residences. The firm's recent
projects include the new Oakland School for the Arts within the historic
Fox Theater in downtown Oakland, and a flexible, modular construction
system for emergency housing, medical facilities and schools.

About Guide Dogs for the Blind
Guide Dogs for the Blind is a community dedicated to providing people
who are blind with the opportunity to experience what a powerful
partnership with a Guide Dog can mean - not only to mobility, but to
quality of life. Established in 1942 to aid blinded veterans of WWII,
the organization offers its services free-of-charge and receives no
government funding. The school is committed to matching each person with
the right dog, developing a personalized training program matched to
each person's lifestyle, and providing unprecedented support services to
establish a true life-long partnership.

###

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