Laguna Learning Center

Construction Budget and Timeline

The Laguna Learning Center is a public-private partnership between the City of Santa Rosa and the Foundation. Each year, thousands of children and adults will be able to experience the natural, agricultural and cultural history of the Laguna at the Laguna Learning Center. The cost estimate for completion of all phases of the project is $6 million. As of March 2007, $1.28 million of this total has been secured in gifts and pledges.

Building Phases

The architectural firm Siegel and Strain, which has long experience in historic rehabilitation, creation of educational centers in partnership with Indian tribes, and energy-efficient “green building,” has designed a three-phase construction plan for rehabilitation of the historic structures and development of the new interpretive center.

Phase 1 (1 to 2 years)
  • Restore the historic farmhouse as administrative offices for the Foundation with a small preliminary interpretive exhibit.
  • Stabilize the deteriorating main historic hop barn.
  • Reestablish Old Occidental Road from Sanford Road to the farmhouse.
  • Clean up the building compound area and plant permaculture landscaping typical of a 19th-century family farm in the Laguna de Santa Rosa Plain.
  • Provide for a small amount of parking.
Phase 2 (1 to 2 years)
  • Build new interpretive center structure that is architecturally compatible with the historic buildings with an exhibit hall, a classroom for education programs, and additional offices.
  • Develop compelling interactive exhibits on the Laguna, its wildlife, and its Native American and agricultural history.
  • Complete and equip a research station to study the Laguna and allow a rigorous scientific basis for restoration and management plans.
  • Construct ADA-compliant bathrooms in the style of historic water tower behind the house.
  • Restore the smaller historic barn for use in agricultural education programs.
  • Complete the landscaped areas of the center to demonstrate family farm agriculture, plants and natural systems native to the Laguna, and plants with special significance to Native Americans.
Phase 3 (3 to 5 years)

Completely restore the main historic hop barn.