Barbara Allen-Diaz, University of California vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), announced today (Nov. 1) that UC ANR will be consolidating over 150 employees into one location in East Davis in early November.  Earlier this year, UC ANR reached an agreement with John Buckel and Rod Johnson of Capital Partners Development Company and Sam, Gwen and Jeff Harrison of the Davis Indoor Sports Center, LLC, for the purchase and renovation of the building located at 2801 Second Street in Davis. MFDB Architects is the project architect, Harrison Construction Company is the General Contractor, and Jim Gray and Nahz Anvary of Cassidy Turley are the brokers.

“With our administrative and statewide program staff co-located in one building in Davis, we will be able to work more efficiently to meet the needs of Californians statewide,” said Allen-Diaz. “We also anticipate savings on energy and other costs by renovating an existing building to meet LEED Certified Interior standards.”

Originally built as an indoor roller hockey rink, and later used as the temporary home of the Yolo County Library and the Explorit Science Center, the building will become the administrative home for UC ANR’s statewide programs.  Interior renovations to the existing 33,000 square feet include adding 9,600 square feet of a partial second floor in the rink portion of the building. 

UC ANR’s statewide programs include Cooperative Extension advisors located in 57 counties as well as nine Research and Extension Centers in different ecosystems from Tulelake near the Oregon border to El Centro in the Imperial Valley.  UC ANR also manages a number of well-known statewide programs whose administrative offices will be located in the new building, including:

• Integrated Pest Management;
• Master Gardeners;
• 4-H Youth Development; and
• The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

From left, CDFA secretary Karen Ross, UC ANR VP Barbara Allen-Diaz and Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza.

“Agriculture is the heart of Davis' past, and is integral to our future.  Agriculture brought us UC Davis, our connection to the Earth and thus our environmentalism, and our intense dedication to healthy living.  I am now very pleased to welcome the UC system’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources to our community.  The City of Davis is honored to be part of UC ANR's worldwide missions for research, education, public service and economic development,” said Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza.

For more information about UC ANR, visit http://ucanr.edu.