The SRJC Construction Training Center is located on the Petaluma campus and consolidates several trade programs formerly housed at different locations into one facility. Students receive training in carpentry, HVAC installation and maintenance, light electrical installation and green building technologies. The new building also features a number of green building systems including passive cooling, use of onsite reclaimed water, and an air-to-water heat pump.
Maximizing the Building Site
Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) was awarded a $7.12 million grant, later increased to $8.12 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to build the Construction Training Center. The Center provides training for hundreds of skilled workers annually as part of the county-wide recovery and rebuild efforts following the October 2017 wildfires. The financial support was matched by local donors and philanthropic organizations to offer some free student training programs.
The College elected to site the building in the middle of a parking lot to mitigate the impact of noisy construction training activities on neighbors and to activate an underutilized area of the Petaluma campus. As a result, much of the building is surrounded by pavement from the parking lot to accommodate both material delivery and construction yard activities. To address this design challenge, our landscape and civil design partners played a strong role in softening the edges of the building by providing planted berms to serve as a buffer and to incorporate low impact design measures for stormwater retention and treatment. Views to the planted banks and to the public park beyond the campus create a calming connection to nature.
Training a Skilled Workforce
Throughout the North Bay, there is a significant demand for skilled workers in the construction trades. SRJC addresses this need by offering short-term career skill training classes that lead to non-credit certificates in fields such as construction and building trades, industrial construction methods, home repair and maintenance, and fire-resistive landscaping. In addition to these non-credit programs, SRJC also provides credit-based options in areas including HVAC, refrigeration technology, solar panel technology, and construction management, supporting both immediate job readiness and long-term career growth.
Designed for Flexibility
The linear design of the building features spacious, open laboratories with high ceilings and generous storage, ensuring maximum flexibility for hands-on training. A network of heavy-duty retractable power cord reels delivers electricity where and when students need it, enhancing the space’s adaptability in a cost-effective manner. Expansive roll-up doors facilitate the easy movement of materials and equipment between the indoor labs and adjacent outdoor work areas, allowing instruction and activities to seamlessly extend beyond the typical classroom environment. Large ceiling fans deliver efficient natural ventilation, while roof monitors and skylights flood the interior with daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting and enhancing occupant comfort.
Purpose-Built Lab Spaces
The programmed lab and shop spaces were envisioned to support their specific disciplines. The water and solar lab were positioned at the south end of the building with access to a secure outdoor yard for use in setting and storing moveable water treatment and solar panel units. This allows for both onsite training and external training for different types of commercial and residential settings. The HVAC lab features space for air conditioning and gas furnace units with and without outdoor condensers. Students have access to electrical and gas piping and supplies for connecting and setting units. The north end of the building includes a full wood shop with dust collection equipment and space for storing lumber and supplies near a covered outdoor yard. Students have been able to utilize the yard space for building trailer-mounted air handling units (AHUs) for delivery to sites around Sonoma County.
Impacting the Community
The SRJC program offers bilingual instruction and welcomes students from all backgrounds, creating a diverse and supportive learning community. No matter their experience or background, all students share a common goal; to develop their skills and contribute positively to their communities.
