Project

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 This new facility replaces and consolidates three existing and outdated homeless facilities run by CAPSLO throughout the city, and now houses all homeless services under one roof.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

Site Description
Website
Summary of Project (Program, Impetus, Time Frame)

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 This new facility replaces and consolidates three existing and outdated homeless facilities run by CAPSLO throughout the city, and now houses all homeless services under one roof.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.

Address
40 Prado Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (map it)
Site Area (SF and/or Acreage)
N/A

40 Prado Homeless Shelter

Program and Area
Number of Units
110 units
Total Gross Square Feet (GSF) of Building(s)
20,000 sq ft

40 Prado Homeless Shelter

Cost
Construction Cost
$6.6 Million

40 Prado Homeless Shelter

Design and Construction Team
Architect
Garcia Architecture + Design
Architect Website
Design Description
As one CAPSLO board member commented to the design team: “This building should not be opulent, nor should it be fancy. It should, however, be designed with the strongest most durable materials we can afford. And above all, this building should be dignified, and provide that sense of dignity to anyone who enters this facility.”

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.

40 Prado Homeless Shelter

Design Timeline
Project Completion Date
2018

40 Prado Homeless Shelter

Development
Development Type
Public Private Partnership
Developer(s) and Website(s)
CAPSLO

40 Prado Homeless Shelter

Funding Source
HHH?
Not Sure