Confidential Rehabilitation Center

The new Educational and Vocational Center at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center is set to revolutionize re-entry and rehabilitation services by expanding education and job training for the incarcerated population, as well as staff training, all grounded in the principles of the California Model. This three-building addition to the San Quentin campus stands as a beacon of how architecture can positively influence human behavior.

Inspired by Nordic precedents, the California Model introduces a cultural shift that emphasizes empowerment, self-agency, and personal responsibility. The Nordic approach, which incorporates the principle of normality, aims to replicate life outside prison to ensure a smoother transition from incarceration to re-entry, enabling individuals to participate in and contribute to society as equal members. Additionally, the project prioritizes the health and well-being of both incarcerated individuals and staff. 

The center will host an accredited community college program, providing residents with facilities designed to maximize their socioeconomic advancement upon graduation and release. This progressive design-build project is on an accelerated schedule, with the goal of completing programming, design, and construction within two years.