Orchid The Ohio Street Probation Center is the first project to fully incorporate the County of San Diego’s vision of an integrated approach to probation, rehabilitative, and community support services. The program focuses on holistic assistance to clients, protecting public safety by coaching clients to restore their lives, families, and the communities they live in.
Designed to be non-institutional in appearance, with a warm character respectful of its clients and thoughtful and protective of County staff, the project accommodates a diverse program on a small, challenging infill site. The main entrance and open, two-story public lobby are designed to be visually accessible to the neighborhood; Probation administrative offices, testing, and staff areas are located to allow separate, safe, and secure access for staff; and a community outreach area provides offices for community service programs and easily accessible community meeting rooms, public food pantry with demonstration kitchen, and a community garden and patio.
A LEED Gold and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) certified building, the building’s form reflects its focus on sustainability. Key design considerations included the scale and orientation of windows to reduce solar exposure while optimizing access to natural light. Warm exterior metal panels provide a balance against the concrete texture.
It was a pleasure working with the County as Bridging Architects and Steinberg Hart did a great job with making it a reality. Great addition to North Park!
Another notable feature of the Ohio Street Probation Center is the artwork by Perry Vasquez. His two paintings–Sunflower and Moonflower– were developed after he engaged in conversation with six members of the justice involved community.
Moonflower, seen in the last photo, invites viewers to reach new heights. Around the periphery is a brocade of portraits of inspirational public figures who have given meaning to the cause of restorative justice, including the six people who provided ideas for the content of the artwork.
They have the best flag pole around. Really pops as a 50′
I remember hearing about the Ohio Street building around eight years ago. The comments were not good, and because of public resistance, the location could not be changed. What a wonderful rise to such a challenge. The building and interior look hopeful, which is exactly what is needed.
Excellent Job County of SD and PW/SB architectural teams: Overcoming great challenges to create a facility for a prominent need within our community, and done so beautifully.
Congratulations.
A beautiful new facility. Congratulations on a job well done.
What a beautiful building! A nice addition to the neighborhood. Well done.
What a fantastic idea! If the community shows respect for those on probation and helps them to build a productive rehabilitated lifestyle, it’s a win-win for everyone.
1. It’s a nice building facility for the probation department. Great improvement and achievement of 20th century of Uptown North Park.
2. I would like to see a parking structure, EV charging point.
3. The probation signs and number should be a monument instead paste against the building.
4. The building numbers needs to be bigger
Such a warm welcoming environment!
The new office on Ohio Street was built with input from the community and support from neighbors. The building includes rehabilitative services, a space for community meetings, a demonstration kitchen to teach cooking skills, and a food pantry. This is a beautiful facility that will have a lasting and positive impact on the community that it serves.
I am not an architect but I understand and appreciate the functionality and the inspiration any building I look at offers.
The architectural design of this building for its intended use provides an exceptional warmth, inspiration, hospitality and functionality.
Excelente
Beautiful!
My immediate reaction is a unique and welcoming design. The environment appears to be designed to facilitate gathering. The color choices are warm and relaxing. Overall, this space is lovely.
Creative concept to attract both people and natural light from Ohio St in the increasingly dense North Park neighborhood.
The Probation Department envisioned a warm and welcoming space to provide services that are aimed to support, educate and empower those that probation serves directly and indirectly within the community. This beautiful non-traditional government building provides clients a space that embodies dignity and respect while seeking services for rehabilitative outreach and support groups, classes around developing cooking skills (culinary space), referrals for those that are home insecure and on-site collaborative services with other local and county agencies.
When it comes to the built environment, the County’s goal is to have Places which are inviting and respectful to all who come to them, as well as to passersby, and the community in general. Steinberg Hart has created a Place which achieves that goal. Congratulations!
Excelente!!
A very beautiful and warming place so adécuate and thoghtful for the type of therapy it is ment for.
Congratulations!
very good project, beautiful and looks functional, with large spaces, excellent areas, congratulations
Excellent
Éxicellent
Finally! A public building that caters to the visitor/end user/client, i.e. the mixed materials, color palette, and of course the architecture itself tells the visitor “you are important to us.” This building should serve as a beacon, or template for everyone interested in community building.
Both interior and exterior are vibrant and open for probation and the community. Great work Mark and Steinberg Hart. Congrats!
Best of luck, great project!
Great addition to North Park. Really improved that block on Ohio Street.
I was unsure of the idea of the building during construction but it turned out beautiful! Well done Probation Department! Well done for bringing a bit of warmth to the public. Well done on ensuring all feels welcomed.
I’d love to see a dedicated parking structure built nearby for employees and for those who have business at the office. North Park is so dense and lacks parking spaces. Please consider this next!
What a nice building! The orange looks warm environment.
WOW, this building is warm and inviting, much better for Probations client’s and staff. I love the back lit signage and address. You’ll be able to find this building day or night.
Great Job to County for LEED Gold and ZNE status.
All around successful project for Steinberg Hart Architects and the County of San Diego’s department of DGS.
This project really benefited from great engineering, interior design and art consultation. Glumac and Elen did a great job with the net zero energy modeling and hvac design. Erin Persky was instrumental because of her expertise with trauma-informed design. Perry Vasquez’ site-specific art was fully integrated into the interior design.
Great and fantastic work
Excellent!
Awesome project!
Very impressive… I like the modern open design and the vibe.
Great modern design with open space and natural light.
Very well executed given the challenges of program and distribution of spaces.
Interesting massing and detail articulation that show cases the building nicely in the public right of way.
This interior is so amazingly beautiful, and it flows with ease. One other aspect that caught my eyes was it has a blue interior light for emergency active shooter alert. Clever! I’ve seen other features as well like delayed egress and exterior knox box away from the main entry for safety.
The Ohio Street Probation Facility project is unique, original architecture. It emanates a majestic portal ambiance, displaying subtle textural contrasts and craftsmanship in mingling symmetry with asymmetry, especially between the polished concrete and the light bronze sheet metal. It radiates earthy elegance through its focused stacking of solid and void, alongside the juxtaposing of opacity and transparency. The artwork within, further elevates the large planes, creating a harmonious blend. It’s compelling how the architecture encapsulates such an atmosphere for its designated use, showcasing hope and promoting inclusion.
Among all the projects displayed, this one manifests the densest design and artistic intensity per square foot, truly distinguishing it from the crowd.
Beautiful.
Very unique work created by a talented Architect.