page_title: Sonoma State University
section_title: Early development
hierarchical_section_title: Sonoma State University / History / Early development
caption_attribution_description: English: The fountain in the artificial lake just north of the Commons building on the Sonoma State Campus in Rohnert Park, California, USA.
context_page_description: Sonoma State University is a public university in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, California. It is one of the smallest members of the California State University system. Sonoma State offers 92 Bachelor's degrees, 19 Master's degrees, and 11 teaching credentials.
context_section_description: As enrollment increased, Sonoma State built more on-campus facilities, including Ives Hall for performing arts, The University Commons for dining, a small library, and a gymnasium. These buildings followed the physical master plan of the school which stated that the facilities would be urban in character, defining the use of smooth concrete building façades with landscaped courtyards. Among the landscaping features added with these facilities were the "Campus Lakes", two small reservoirs located behind the Commons next to Commencement Lawn, the site of the university's annual commencement ceremonies, as well as one lake near a housing facility, Beaujolais Village; the lakes are home to local waterfowl.
  In 1969, the first master's degrees in biology and psychology were offered. The new cluster school concept, coupled with a more intense focus on the surrounding rural environment, influenced the new physical master plan. The first facility built under the new plan was the Zinfandel residence area. The new Student Health Center used a primarily redwood façade with a landscaped ground cover of wild roses and poppies. Sonoma State was closed from May 7–11, 1970 after Governor Ronald Reagan ordered that all California colleges and universities shut down due to anti-war protests and rallies after the shootings of four students at Kent State University. In 1975, Nichols Hall was built as the newest classroom hall and named in honor of Sonoma's founding president, Ambrose R. Nichols.
  Early development of the modern campus came to a close in 1976 when the Student Union was constructed between the main quad and the lakes. This building continued the use of the physical master plan, using primarily redwood and preceded the similarly built Carson Hall, an art building, a childcare center, additional parking, and a computer center which was added onto the library.
caption: One of the ponds behind the Commons
exif: {}