Candace BarnetteSonoma County, California, is investing in its workforce with a $434 million development project to upgrade its campus in Santa Rosa. Officials presented the plan to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and it includes large-scale new construction projects, renovations and acquisitions to expand the existing campus.
The project is currently in a year-long environmental review phase following a Notice of Preparation issued in June. Design efforts are underway, led by ZGF Architects and COAR Design Group, with demolition of existing offices targeted for late 2026. Construction is slated to begin in mid-2027.
The conceptual design presented to the board spans the entire 26-acre campus. It involves the acquisition of nearby office buildings, along with construction of a new five-story facility on the west side of campus.
Officials say aging current government buildings are the primary reason for the investment. Most buildings on the current campus are around 70 years old and lack modern amenities and infrastructure.
The centerpiece of the plan is a five-story modern office building planned for 585 Fiscal Drive. The $320 million structure is the single most expensive effort in the plan and will house about 435 employees from seven county departments when it opens in fall 2029. Officials say the building is designed for modern government work and better staff collaboration. It will house essential government operations.
Officials tried different approaches, such as renovating the existing structures, but faced a cost of more than $750 million for everything needed to bring them up to a better working standard. They instead decided on a cheaper, more efficient approach of building one large facility and purchasing several others in the immediate area.
The county bought two office buildings near Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport as part of this overall strategy. The county bought 3850 and 3880 Brickway Boulevard for $32 million, along with 400 Aviation Boulevard for $56 million. The county already moved 250 employees to 400 Aviation last fall while they were leasing the space, including Public Infrastructure and Regional Parks departments.
By 2026, the airport buildings will house eight departments and about 550 employees, including public-facing offices like Permit Sonoma, the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor’s Office and the Registrar of Voters Department. The county is investing $25 million in building improvements to create modern customer service centers and upgrade systems. The upgrades, according to officials, will significantly improve energy efficiency and carbon footprint of the campus.
The site is also being reviewed for a mixed-use space on the east side, spanning approximately 17 acres. The area could become housing for up to 1,500 residents, addressing the housing shortage in the region while making money from county land no longer needed for business use. Officials are also considering affordable workforce housing and commercial space, depending on the environmental review results and future board approval.
The overall project runs on a five-year timeline through 2030. When completed, the new campus will serve all 1,700 county employees in modern facilities while providing residents better access to government services. The airport buildings also offer strategic advantages with proximity to Highway 101 and walking distance to the SMART train station.
The county expects to select a general contractor for the main building in late 2026 or early 2027.
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