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

[Tracy Carcione]

Wow, sounds nice!
Smart rail line?  Will there be a train stop near GDB then, or does it
just whiz past?

30 years ago, when I got my first dog at San Rafael, they were building
the retrain wing.  I guess maybe it's time for some renovations.  If I
ever get back to San Francisco, I'll have to take a tour of the new
campus.  That gives me at least a couple years to plan.
Tracy

> 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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