January 4, 2018 - The Sonoma County Junior College District, more commonly known as Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) is pleased to announce that it has selected SmithGroupJJR to design the new Science & Math Replacement Project (STEM).  SmithGroupJJR teamed up with local architect Strata AP, from Sonoma, who will provide community-outreach and community-building services for the project.

The new 92,000-square-foot STEM Project will replace the College’s existing science and mathematics buildings with a modern science facility. The project is financed by local bond funds (Measure H) and State capital outlay funding.

SmithGroupJJR, a nationally recognized, integrated design firm with more than 1,100 employees in 11 offices in the U.S and China, was selected by a committee composed of faculty and staff. The firm’s Higher Education Practice has completed work on more than 400 campuses and is dedicated to designing spaces that inspire student success. 

“The integration of disciplines collocated in this building will greatly influence the value STEM education provides its students and how prepared they will be entering the workforce in their local communities,” said Roxanne Malek, Higher Education Studio Leader at SmithGroupJJR’s San Francisco office. “We will thoughtfully address the campus’ historic context while designing a forward-thinking building the College can be proud of for years to come.”

The project groundbreaking is expected to take place in spring 2020 with construction completion anticipated in approximately 2022. Santa Rosa Junior College Superintendent and President Dr. Frank Chong said, “This is the 100 year anniversary of Santa Rosa Junior College, and we are committed to providing our Science, Math and Engineering students with a 21st-century learning environment that will last for the next 100 years.  The team of SmithGroupJJR and Strata AP understood this vision, our collaborative decision-making process, and the mission of our college.  We look forward to working with SmithGroupJJR and Strata AP as we bring this vision to reality.”

SRJC encompasses more than 1,600 square miles from southern Mendocino County to northern Marin County. The District is bounded to the west by the Pacific Ocean and the east by Napa and Lake Counties and is the 11th oldest of California’s 114 publicly funded two-year colleges and one of the largest.  SRJC includes two campuses in Sonoma County: a 100+ acre campus in the heart of Santa Rosa and a modern 40-acre campus in Petaluma. SRJC also includes the regional Public Safety Training Center in Windsor, 365-acre Shone Farm near Forestville, and a Southwest Santa Rosa teaching site. With approximately 3,000 employees, it is one of Sonoma County’s largest employers. The college is celebrating its 100 year anniversary throughout 2018.