What is Sunnylands?
Who runs Sunnylands?
What kinds of retreats will take place at Sunnylands?
How are retreats scheduled?
When will Sunnylands open?
Is this a "green" project?
As a visitor, what will I be able to do at Sunnylands?
Will Sunnylands be available to rent for a wedding, business conference, or social event?
What will it cost to visit Sunnylands?
How can I learn more about Sunnylands?
Q: What is Sunnylands?
Sunnylands is the 200-acre estate in Rancho Mirage, California that was the West Coast home of Ambassador and Mrs. Walter H. Annenberg. Completed in 1966, Sunnylands was designed by architect A. Quincy Jones with interiors by William Haines and Ted Graber. The 25,000-square-foot midcentury modern house is located on landscaped grounds that include a private golf course, tennis court, swimming pool, and 11 fishing lakes. The Annenbergs welcomed to Sunnylands seven United States presidents, British royalty, international political figures, and cultural and entertainment legends.
Prior to her death in 2009, Mrs. Annenberg identified 15 additional acres adjacent to Sunnylands on which to construct a center and gardens for public programs. She commissioned Frederick Fisher and Partners to design the center and The Office of James Burnett to design the gardens.
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Q: Who runs Sunnylands?
In 2001, Ambassador and Mrs. Annenberg established The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands to own and operate Sunnylands after their deaths. Today, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating entity governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees composed of the children and grandchildren of Leonore and Walter Annenberg. Geoffrey Cowan is the president of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.
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Q: What kinds of retreats will take place at Sunnylands?
The Annenbergs left Sunnylands to be forever used to advance world peace and facilitate international agreement by continuing the tradition of convening powerful global figures for private retreats during which they will discuss ways in which problems can be resolved, difficulties overcome, and solutions reached.
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Q: How are retreats scheduled?
The process for retreat development, consideration, and selection is under way. Trustees have approved standards and areas of geographic focus, and our staff are reaching out to the institutions and leaders identified in the Declaration of Trust.
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Q: When will Sunnylands open?
Sunnylands Center & Gardens and the renovated historic estate will open to the public on March 1, 2012.
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Q: Is this a "green" project?
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is committed to environmental sensitivity. The new construction received LEED Gold designation. There is a solar field for electrical power and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. The gardens are designed to use no more than 20 percent of the water permitted under Coachella Valley Water District regulations. At the historic estate, demand for water and power is being reduced through turf reduction and the introduction of arid grasses, as well as with the installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation system and a new lake circulation system, and the implementation of a composting program for grounds maintenance.
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Q: As a visitor, what will I be able to do at Sunnylands?
Sunnylands Center & Gardens will provide a range of public programs and educational exhibits. Visitors can view films, engage with interactive multimedia stations, relax in the great room with its spectacular view of Mount San Jacinto, enjoy the menu options at the cafe, and browse in the store. Outdoor activities include exploring the unique nine-acre garden, which uses drought-resistant plants to paint a living canvas while consuming a minimal amount of water. Interpretive materials will explain the ways in which solar panels and geothermal systems supply energy for this LEED Gold project. A limited schedule of tours of the historic house and grounds will be offered by reservation only.
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Q: Will Sunnylands be available to rent for a wedding, business conference, or social event?
Neither the historic estate nor Sunnylands Center & Gardens are available for private events.
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Q: What will it cost to visit Sunnylands?
Visits to Sunnylands Center & Gardens will be free of charge. Tours of the historic estate, special programs, and classes will require a fee and reservations.
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Q: How can I learn more about Sunnylands?
Additional information about Sunnylands can be found in the book Sunnylands, edited by David G. De Long. Sunnylands is available through the University of Pennsylvania Press. and at the Sunnylands store. An errata sheet for the book is available here.
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