The new Homeless Services Center at 40 Prado consists of a single-story building of approximately 20,000 sf, which provides comprehensive support services for individuals and families dealing with homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. This new facility replaces and consolidates three existing and outdated homeless facilities run by CAPSLO throughout the city, and now houses all homeless services under one roof.
The center’s prime mission to provide overnight accommodations is achieved via separate and discrete dormitories for women and men, as well as a separate family and children’s wing. Total capacity of the overnight facility can house up to 110 beds, which more than doubles CAPSLO’s current overnight operations. In addition to programming provisions for separate showers, lockers, laundry facilities, commercial kitchen and dining room, and other basic amenities, the design team was challenged to create a facility that was at once welcoming and safe, yet also robust and resilient in both design and materiality.
40 Prado Homeless Shelter
The new Homeless Services Center at 40 Prado consists of a single-story building of approximately 20,000 sf, which provides comprehensive support services for individuals and families dealing with homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. This new facility replaces and consolidates three existing and outdated homeless facilities run by CAPSLO throughout the city, and now houses all homeless services under one roof.
The center’s prime mission to provide overnight accommodations is achieved via separate and discrete dormitories for women and men, as well as a separate family and children’s wing. Total capacity of the overnight facility can house up to 110 beds, which more than doubles CAPSLO’s current overnight operations. In addition to programming provisions for separate showers, lockers, laundry facilities, commercial kitchen and dining room, and other basic amenities, the design team was challenged to create a facility that was at once welcoming and safe, yet also robust and resilient in both design and materiality.
40 Prado Homeless Shelter
40 Prado Homeless Shelter
40 Prado Homeless Shelter
Taking these words to heart, the design team developed a solution that located all required functions and spaces around a centralized internal courtyard. Once inside the facility, users are allowed to access all interior and exterior components and areas, while still maintaining that sense of privacy and safety throughout the entire facility.