California’s San Quentin is well known for its prison origins, but that’s about to change with the upcoming opening of the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, which prioritizes rehabilitation and education through a $239 million investment inspired by Scandinavian prison models. Governor Newsom led the effort and was guided by the San Quentin Transformation Advisory Council, and the project emphasizes a campus-style layout designed to nurture education, mental health, and social reintegration.
The new complex, designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen in collaboration with DLR Group, will feature a dedicated education and vocational wing, complete with classrooms, a library, a tech/media center, farmers market, café, and a self-service grocery store. More akin to a college campus, residential units will be upgraded to single-occupancy rooms, which will help to reduce overcrowding and create more humane living standards.
The project’s planning included formerly incarcerated individuals, criminal justice experts, and community stakeholders to ensure the design is feasible and helps with real-life rehabilitation outcomes.
Set for completion in early 2026, the project represents a bold shift toward restorative justice by offering mental health support, life-skills training, and evidence-based approaches to break cycles of recidivism and promote healthier communities.
