SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA.- The Sonoma County Museum has dedicated itself for over a year to a critical strategic planning process to develop a comprehensive program plan for its renovation and expansion. Efforts culminated this June in reaching a major goal: the announcement of an architectural selection. The Sonoma County Museum is pleased to announce Michael Maltzan as the architect who will undertake its building project effective immediately.
 
Process - Selecting the architect was the next step in a long process, which included: Securing major gifts and state funds for initial building development. Acquiring properties on both sides of the existing Museum site. Hiring a new Executive Director. Creating a comprehensive program plan.
 
The Museum hired its first permanent Executive Director, Natasha Boas Ph.D in September of 2001. Earlier in 2001 it completed its acquisition of the entire stretch of property along Seventh Street in downtown Santa Rosa between A and B Streets and received a major state grant for building development. In 2000, the Museum was gifted a total of 7.5 million dollars from community philanthropists and in 2001 received $250,000. from a major state grant.
 
The past year culminated in articulating the program plan which included an assessment of the market potential, analysis of community interest in the proposed facilities, educational needs, program opportunities, evaluation of existing and planned museums in the area, and comparable case studies. The program plan for the expanded Sonoma County Museum is rooted in the vision agreed upon by representatives from the Museum staff and board, the Press Democrat, the Sonoma County Repertory Theatre, the Santa Rosa Symphony, local schools, businesses and private citizens.
 
Scope of Project - The completed structure will encompasses an approximately 40,000 square foot new Museum building, including the renovation of the old Post-Office, as well as 11,000 square feet of state-of-the-art gallery space, a kidspace, classrooms, learning center, lecture and screening room, a community centerspace, and support facilities. The completed renovation and new building is slated for 2005. Cost, including design and construction, is estimated at 27 million dollars with a 3 million dollar endowment. The curatorial direction for exhibitions and public programs will focus on history, art and culture with a special emphasis on the topic "Where Land Meets Art."
 
Architectural Selection - A five-month international search for the architect was conducted by a sub-committee of the Board and involved the participation of the local architectural community. A final selection of six very strong candidates from local, national and international firms concluded with appointing Los Angeles-based Michael Maltzan as architect. Key factors in the selection process were the ability to represent the complexity of Sonoma County, its rich diversity of people, cultures, regions, history, industry in a building that will represent the cultural identities of Sonoma County. The final selection was determined by the appropriateness of the architect to create a cultural icon for and of Sonoma County and Santa Rosa, while rethinking the notion of regionalism. Natasha Boas says "We chose an architect that was sensitive to the fabric of place and to the transformative power of Museums. Maltzan clearly understands Sonoma County and has a strong experience in building major Museums."
 
Glenn D. Lowry, MoMA’s Director, states: “As the Museum of Modern Art approaches the opening later this month of MoMA QNS, our new museum in Long Island City, Queens, we applaud Michael Maltzan, one of the most gifted and dynamic architects working today, whose innovative design sensibility can be seen in the public spaces, and even the rooftop, of MoMA QNS. We wish the Sonoma County Museum great success as they embark on this process of renewal and discovery.”
 
Board President, Kevin Konicek remarks “Michael’s vision for the Museum matched ours. What impressed us most was his insightful and enthusiastic response to the challenging site, to the unique and multilateral program, and especially to our rather audacious mission to reinvent the American regional museum. While he’s already earned widespread acclaim as one of our nation’s greatest young architects, Michael clearly is excited about taking things to the next level. We feel most privileged to be able to work with him at this critical juncture in his highly promising career.”
 
Bill Knight, Board VP, architect and former Mayor of Santa Rosa comments, “Michael Maltzan will bring the focus on significant architecture to the downtown that I have dreamed about for years.  We have the opportunity to have greatness in our city, and Michael has the creativity, sensitivity, and understanding to make it happen.  We are fortunate to have an architect of this national stature working with us to better our community and reinforce our commitment to the vitality of our unique downtown.”
 
Dick Ozborne, local architect adds, "It was a pleasure and an honor to be included in the interviews your museum conducted in the search for an architect for your new addition. Your selection committee is to be congratulated for their thoroughness and patience. Indeed, they selected a slate of very talented architects who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in the area of museum design. I share the committee’s enthusiasm in the selection of Mr. Maltzan. His responses to the museum’s program and the questions posed by the committee were right on. There is no question in my mind that he is the right man for the job." 
 
Michael Maltzan - Maltzan, known for his elegant, abstract compositions as well as his seven-year affiliation with Frank O. Gehry Associates as Senior Associate, is a major presence in contemporary museum design. His latest achievement to capture the spotlight is the unveiling on June 23rd of his design for the temporary home of the Museum of Modern Art located in Long Island City, Queens, NY.
 
The Los Angeles-based Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. was established in 1995 and has since garnered an enviable client list. Maltzan designed the new art park alongside the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo; he designed the renovation of the UCLA Hammer Museum in Westwood and Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena both to be completed in the Spring of 2003.
 
Maltzan’s professional career began with the Boston firm of Schwartz/Silver Architects, and later with Machado-Silvetti Associates. In 1988, he began a seven-year affiliation with Frank O. Gehry Associates as Senior Associate, and was Senior Designer on a number of award-winning projects including the Disney Concert Hall, the University of Toledo Art School, and the Molecular Biology Center at the University of Cincinnati.
 
He has served as design instructor, lecturer, and visiting critic at The Architectural League of New York, Rhode Island School of Design, UCLA, USC, Harvard University, University of Waterloo, SCI-Arc, and the Illuminating Engineering Society. He is currently designing lighting fixtures for the Baldinger Lighting Company, and is an active member of Inner-City Arts (a Los Angeles nonprofit arts organization for at-risk children) where he has been a board member since 1994 and is currently Vice President of the Executive Committee.