County Government Center

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

Vision for County Government Center Modernization: 

The County of Sonoma has an opportunity and obligation to upgrade its dated and inefficient County Government Center at and around 575 Administration Drive for the health and well-being of residents and employees. This once-in-a-generation project will provide modernized office space for the public and County staff, consolidate and streamline service delivery for convenience and ease of use, and reduce the County government’s carbon footprint, all while saving taxpayer money. The current goal is that by the start of 2030, approximately 1,700 County employees will have modern, efficient and sustainable public offices at three locations – a rebuilt Government Center on the current County campus, and three purchased buildings near the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport. The total projected cost of $434 million is by far the most cost effective of all of the options the County has considered to date to modernize its facilities.

Background: 

In 2013, Sonoma County commissioned a Comprehensive County Facilities Plan, outlining the inefficiencies of the existing County Administration Center, which was built in the 1950s. An independent facilities condition assessment identified $258 million in deferred maintenance for the campus, which has now grown to more than $750 million. In 2018, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to explore options for building a new County Government Center, including identifying potential sites and financial strategies. 

In March 2019, staff created an initial proposal for redeveloping the former Sears building in downtown Santa Rosa as the new County Government Center. The Board in 2021 identified the Sears site as the preferred location for a new campus and directed staff to negotiate a $20.75 million purchase agreement. By January 2022, the Sears site proposal faced financial questions, with estimated development costs for an 18-story office tower estimated at $1.7 billion including 30-year financing costs, operations, and maintenance costs that would result in the building’s useful life of 60 years. This led the Board to shift focus back to the existing County campus and alternative sites.

In March 2022, the Board directed staff to reassess constructing a new Government Center on the existing County campus. Cost estimates showed that a single multi-story office building at the current site would cost $682 million, while a two-building campus at the current site would cost $721 million. By fall of 2022, County staff began evaluating alternative sites to avoid high redevelopment costs at the current campus. 

In 2024, the Board approved further analysis of leasing with an option to purchase 400 Aviation Blvd and buy two office buildings at Brickway Boulevard as well, both in the Airport Business Center northwest of Santa Rosa. The County began leasing 400 Aviation in the fall of 2024, when 250 employees from Public Infrastructure and Regional Parks moved into the building. Financial modeling confirmed that acquiring the Brickway Campus for $32 million, and 400 Aviation for $56 million, plus $25 million in building improvements, if added to the cost of constructing a smaller campus on the current site for $320 million would total $434 million – the least expensive option. This represents a savings of $249 to $288 million versus only constructing a new County Government Center to accommodate the same number of employees. In December 2024, the County hired ZGF Architects in collaboration with COAR Design Group as the Architect/Engineer for the County Government Center, and the team has begun designing the new center. 

On March 25, 2025 the Board of Supervisors issued a notice of intent to purchase for the two Brickway buildings. The notice period is open for six weeks, and the Board is scheduled to consider purchasing the buildings on May 6. During the notice period, if the public has ideas about other properties to be considered as part of this modernization plan, please contact Warren.Sattler@sonoma-county.org. The Brickway Boulevard property price of $32 million represents substantial savings compared to developing a new building of similar quality and specifications, which is estimated to cost more than $63 million excluding land acquisition, design and permitting.

The proposed acquisitions and any reimagined County Government Center would be generational endeavors that meet the County’s Strategic Plan pillar of Organizational Excellence. They will provide the public with a more positive experience while interacting with staff and receiving services. They will allow County employees to work in spaces that are conducive to effective and efficient operations and promote collaboration. And they will ensure the County improves its infrastructure resiliency while diversifying its geographic presence across Sonoma County. 

FAQs: 

What are the benefits to the County of purchasing new office buildings five miles from the current County Campus? 
Strategic investment in 400 Aviation Blvd. and 3850 and 3880 Brickway Blvd. is a cost-saving measure to relocate County staff and services that are currently housed in aging, inadequate and leased facilities. The cost of addressing major ongoing building system failures is increasing, and this property investment avoids continued deferred maintenance expenses at the existing county buildings, which has grown to $750 million. The County already has several departments housed in offices near the Airport, including Public Infrastructure, Regional Parks and Human Services. 

What are other advantages for the public and at these locations off Airport Boulevard? 

The properties are approximately one mile from Highway 101 and are in walking distance from the SMART train station. The Brickway buildings, built in 2001, and 400 Aviation, built in 2016, include modern amenities and energy-efficient building systems. Other advantages include: 

• Proximity to other County agencies located in the Airport office district for improved, centralized customer service.  
• Repurposed vacant buildings and reduced operational costs from energy-efficient systems and new construction. 
• Avoidance of construction delays, potential cost increases and risks that come with building a new property. 
• Flexibility and control over the use of the building, allowing the County to adapt space to meet its needs without the limitations of leasing. 
• Long-term investment value in owning a unique, high-quality asset in a desirable location. 
• Continuity of operations during a disaster by having multiple campuses and employees in different locations. 

How will the public benefit from the County purchasing these buildings? 

Besides the cost savings of $249 million to $288 million for taxpayers when compared to the cost of a new County Government Center that could house all the County employees needing new space, the public will benefit from having multiple public-facing offices in accessible service center locations with adequate parking and locations near public transit. The Brickway buildings are expected to house Permit Sonoma, Clerk-Recorder-Assessor's Office, Registrar of Voters Department, and the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector Department. The 400 Aviation Blvd. building is expected to house Sonoma County Department of Public Infrastructure, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and the Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative, among others. A modern customer service center for these offices is included in the improvements cost. 

What is the connection between purchasing these buildings and the plans for the current County campus? 

If the purchase is finalized, and multiple departments complete the move to the Airport campus, the new County Government Center could be reduced in size and scope, currently envisioned as a five-story structure at the current site of the Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector Department at 585 Fiscal Dr. This will result in a projected $249 million to $288 million savings to taxpayers. This approach also provides the County with the opportunity to ensure continuity of service and eliminates much of the uncertainty about the planning, timing and cost of a larger County Government Center. By alleviating the need for additional space at a new County Government Center, more options become available for future plans and uses of the main County Campus, including much-needed affordable housing and possible commercial space. 

Timeline: 

• January 2023: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors selects the current County campus as the site for potential new County Government Center and redevelopment. 
• July 2024: The Board directs staff to proceed with the environmental review and pre-construction design work. 
• October 2024: Public Infrastructure and Regional Parks move to leased offices in 400 Aviation Blvd. 
• December 2024: The County hires ZGF Architects in collaboration with COAR Design Group as the Architect/Engineer for the County Government Center. 
• March 25, 2025: The Board of Supervisors issued a notice of intent to purchase the office buildings at 3850 and 3880 Brickway Blvd.
• May 6, 2025: The Board of Supervisors will consider purchasing the two Brickway buildings.
• Second quarter of 2025: Conceptual schematic design for the County Government Center will be completed. 
• Fall of 2025: Eight departments with approximately 550 employees are planned to move into the purchased office buildings. 
• 2027: Construction on the new County Government Center is planned to begin. 
• Fall of 2029: Seven departments with approximately 435 employees are expected to move into the new County Government Center.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is considering purchasing 3850 Brickway Boulevard (top) and 3880 Brickway Boulevard (bottom).

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

This map 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.