What we are establishing is a national model of integrated green design that could be adopted for other buildings, irregardless of their scale or location.

We are purposely ambitious with our goals of making a “living building” that exposes its ecological support systems, be it rain, sun or wind.

We anticipate that each year, several thousand visitors to the Center will utilize this new facility, as they come to Hopland to learn how humans relate to their environment, and how we can better manage our resources in more sensitive, sustainable ways. The building’s namesake, Rod Shippey, enjoyed teaching people, both young and old, new ways of living and enjoying our interrelationships with the natural world.

It is our dream that each student and each visitor will learn, not only from the leaders, teachers, scientists, and docents who will use this education facility, but also from the building itself, because of the harmony it creates in its interaction with the landscape.