Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs and training free-of-charge to nearly 350 blind and visually impaired people annually and supports a community of more than 2,000 graduates. After 68 years of operation, the non-profit organization needed to update its 11-acre headquarters, modernizing its facilities and preparing for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) line, which will run along the campus' southeast edge. Addressing these pragmatic concerns provided the opportunity to build a new campus that better supports Guide Dogs' students as well as its community education mission.
Click image above for a larger view of Guide Dogs' campus renovation project.
Starkweather Bondy Architecture reorganized the new campus to temper the presence of the future SMART line. The plan moves the Residence Building to the campus' quieter north edge and lets parking and the Welcome Center--which includes a small auditorium, interpretive center, and administrative offices--serve as a buffer between the campus and rail line. The Event Plaza, a multipurpose landscaped commons set between the two buildings, further expands the campus' capacity for social, educational and community activities. The central pedestrian access, sensory gardens and other features improve wayfinding throughout the campus. The design improves emergency passenger vehicular circulation and expands parking capacity.
Nestled in a stand of redwoods, the Residence Building serves as the heart of the campus for Guide Dog students. Nineteen private suites open to a courtyard where space for off-leash play and a sheltered dog-relieving area support the guests' training. Classrooms and staff areas mediate between the building's private and more public areas. A dining room and lounge, which opens to a second courtyard completes this unique living/learning environment.
The buildings' folding forms and simple materials merge with the campus 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.
Ultimately, the design provides a beautiful, safe and nurturing campus that will serve the needs of the Guide Dogs organization long into the future. The new campus is expected to open in 2012.
Classes and business operations will continue during construction.
