The journey of the Sonoma State University Wine Spectator Learning Center took its next big step at the Grand Opening Celebration held on May 29th. The festive event was attended by several hundred people, including elected officials, SSU leadership, project donors, members of the wine industry, faculty and students of the Wine Business Institute, the project design and construction team, and the general public.
Wine Business Institute Unveiling Video by News of the Northbay
TLCD Architecture’s involvement in this $11 M project began back in 2013, when the concept of converting the original Campus Commons and Dining Hall into the new home for the Wine Business Institute was in its very early stages. We were initially hired to create renderings of the new concepts for the building, to facilitate SSU in generating interest with potential donors from the wine industry. The project, which received no State funding, was dependent on these generous donations in order to move forward. And that it did! Read more about the major donors including Wine Spectator here.
The project moved forward, and TLCD’s involvement in the design and furniture selection, working alongside with Truebeck Construction, helped transform the aging concrete structure into a light, transparent and contemporary beacon on the campus main quad. The technology was on full display at the Grand Opening as guests streamed through the lobby, meeting hall, flexible classrooms, and faculty office suites. What was most exciting was seeing how well the new facility is capable of hosting large events, with a strong indoor-outdoor connection between the building and the several outdoor terraces overlooking the campus quad, graduation lawn, and pond.
We can hardly wait to see the next chapter of the journey, when faculty, visiting professors, students and the general public start using the building, and really put Sonoma State University on the map as the leading institution for Wine Business education.
