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County Of Sonoma › Development Services › Sonoma Public Infrastructure › Divisions › Capital Projects › County Government Center

County Government Center

graphic image of an architectural illustration and plans for a county government center

County Government Center Modernization

The County of Sonoma is taking a once-in-a-generation step to modernize its outdated Government Center at and around 575 Administration Drive. This project will create healthy, efficient, and sustainable workspaces for the public and County employees, while saving taxpayer money and reducing the County’s carbon footprint.

By 2030, about 1,700 employees will work in modern offices at three locations:

  • A rebuilt Government Center on the current campus
  • A newly purchased building at 400 Aviation Blvd.
  • Two purchased buildings at 3850 and 3880 Brickway Blvd., near the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

The total projected cost is $434 million—the most cost-effective option studied, saving $249–$288 million compared to building a single new Government Center.

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BACKGROUND
BENEFITS
TIMELINE
VISUALIZATIONS
DOCUMENTS
CONTACTS

Background

  • 1950s-built facilities at the current campus face over $750 million in deferred maintenance.
  • In 2013, a facility plan recommended modernization.
  • In 2019, the County explored redeveloping the former Sears site in downtown Santa Rosa, but projected costs reached $1.7 billion, leading the Board to focus back on the existing campus and other sites.
  • In 2024, the Board approved acquiring three Airport-area buildings. Leasing began that fall for 400 Aviation Blvd., with 250 employees moving in.
  • Purchasing the two Brickway Blvd. buildings for $32 million offers major savings over constructing similar facilities from scratch.

Benefits of the Airport-Area Buildings

Cost Savings & Efficiency

  • Avoids high repair costs at aging facilities
  • Reduces taxpayer expenses by up to $288 million
  • Uses energy-efficient systems to cut operating costs

Location & Accessibility

  • About one mile from Highway 101 and close to SMART train service
  • Near other County agencies for more convenient public service

Quality & Flexibility

  • Modern buildings (built 2001 and 2016) with amenities and adaptable layouts
  • County ownership allows control over use and future needs
  • Provides service continuity during disasters by diversifying locations

Public Benefits

  • Multiple public-facing offices in accessible locations with ample parking and transit access
  • Modern customer service centers for departments such as:
    • Permit Sonoma
    • Clerk-Recorder-Assessor’s Office
    • Registrar of Voters
    • Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector
    • Public Infrastructure
    • Regional Parks
    • Economic Development

Plans for the Current Campus

If the Airport-area purchases are completed, the new Government Center on the current campus can be smaller—currently envisioned as a five-story building at 585 Fiscal Drive. This will:

  • Save up to $288 million
  • Maintain service continuity
  • Free up space for potential affordable housing and commercial use in the future

Timeline

JAN 2023 Board selects current County Campus site for potential new Government Center
JUL 2024 Design work approved
OCT 2024 First staff from Public Infrastructure and Regional Parks move to 400 Aviation Blvd.
DEC 2024 Design team hired (ZGF Architects and COAR Design Group)
MAR-JUL 2025 Brickway buildings purchase approved & finalized
Q2 2025 Concept design complete
2026 550 staff from eight departments move into purchased buildings
2027 Construction starts on new Government Center
Q3 2029 435 staff from seven departments move into new Government Center

Current Views and Visualizations

image of the exterior of a two-story building The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved purchase of 3850 Brickway Boulevard and 3880 Brickway Boulevard. image of the exterior of a two-story building
aerial view of buildings marked on a map

This map on the left shows the location (in blue) of the buildings that the County of Sonoma owns or leases near the Charles M. Shulz-Sonoma County Airport.

Click the map for an enlarged view.

400 Aviation Blvd. is pictured on the right.

 image of the exterior of a three-story building
aerial view of a city street map with buildings marked

The map on the left shows the location (in red) of buildings on the current County Government Center slated for demolition as part of the County Government Center Modernization project.

The map on the right shows the possible layout of future County Government Center building at Fiscal and Administration drives in Santa Rosa.

Click the maps for enlarged views.

 aerial view of a street map with architectural visualizations for new building

Documents

DRAFT Notice of Preparation: Draft Environmental Impact Report
BUDGET County Government Center Fiscal Information
FINAL Press Release: Brickway Notice of Intent
FINAL Brickway Staff Report
FINAL Brickway Building Floorplan
FINAL County Leased and Owned Space Near the Airport
FINAL Alternative Properities Considered
BUDGET Brickway Appraisal
MEETING Sonoma County Govnernment Center Scoping Meeting - June 24, 2025

Contacts

For comments about the County Government Center plan, please contact bos@sonomacounty.gov

If you have ideas about other properties to be considered as part of this modernization plan, please contact Warren.Sattler@sonomacounty.gov