After serving as Chief Planning Officer here at Sonoma State for over two decades, Christopher Dinno officially retired in June of this year. Since his start here at SSU, Christopher oversaw facility and building projects that grew the campus from just over 1 million, to 2.4 million square feet.
Dinno’s final project on campus was the renovation of Stevenson Hall, which took eight years to complete, and cost $90 million. According to The Press Democrat, Dinno sounded like a “proud father” when he gave reporters a tour of Stevenson Hall, which is now Sonoma State’s largest academic building.
Stevenson Hall, which was 57 years-old prior to the renovation, officially opened to students in Jan. 2023. According to The Press Democrat, the old Stevenson Hall was “notorious for its unwelcoming, concrete-forward facade,” and was once the subject of a lawsuit over the presence of asbestos. Now, thanks to Dinno, it features a sustainable design, with a more organized classroom layout, large open spaces and plenty of natural light.
Speaking to The Press Democrat, Dinno explained that he thought these features, along with the exposed ceilings, brought a “Silicon Valley vibe” to the building. He also stated that the building was designed specifically so that students would have pockets of space to hang out in between classes, which he referred to as “eddies.”
Stevenson Hall has won numerous awards, including a 2024 DBIA Western Pacific Region Design Excellence Award, and a 2024 DBIA Western Pacific Region Innovation Award.
Dinno also helped oversee the creation of the Green Music Center, a large concert hall and event center here on campus. The building features state-of-the-art acoustics and a visually stunning design. The views surrounding the building also add to its popularity for various events and community gatherings.
Dinno also played a key role in the development of the Wine Spectator Learning Center here at SSU, the only Wine Business Institute in the nation. He also helped to develop much of the student housing on campus, including Beaujolais and Tuscany Village, which were ranked by the Princeton Review as being some of the best student housing in the nation.
Despite all of his work here on campus, some students were unaware of Dinno’s presence and historic touch. Emma Lofgren, a SRJC transfer student, recently toured campus and was amazed by the size and beauty of Dinno’s designs. “I really liked the wine spectator building. The grape vines, large windows and overall design is very comforting yet professional,” Lofgren said.
Professors and faculty on campus were saddened to hear of Dinno’s official retirement in June. Elaine Leeder, a sociology professor, has fond memories of her time spent with Dinno. “I enjoyed working with Christopher. The Holocaust Grove and Anne Frank tree installation would have never occurred without him,” Leeder said.
