San Quentin is one of the most notorious prisons in the United States. Johny Cash described it as “hell on earth” but it has recently been remodeled in a Nordic style with an emphasis on creating an atmosphere of rehabilitation and peace. Now called the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, the prison is one of the oldest in California, originally opening in 1852. The transformation is being led by Danish studio Schmidt Hammer Lassen in collaboration with McCarthy Building Companies and local firm DLR Group.
Designer: Schmidt Hammer Lassen, McCarthy Building Companies & DLR Group
There is currently a single rendering that shows a beautiful green garden area full of lush nature. It looks pretty warm, inviting and pleasant considering it's a US prison. The aim was to offer the population a peaceful and relaxed campus experience. An existing warehouse on the site was demolished and one of the three stone walls removed to create three educational buildings and an exterior entrance.
Available classroom space will be tripled and will include a library, technology and media center, café and shop. There will also be modernization of living conditions and an urban square area as well as areas for family visits. The project is currently in progress and will be completed in early 2026. The budget is $240 million.
“California is transforming San Quentin – our state’s most notorious prison – into the country’s most innovative rehabilitation facility focused on building a better, safer future,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “We are literally tearing down walls to redesign our prison system, incentivize real rehabilitation and end the cycle of violence and crime. Brick by brick, we are building a new future that makes us all safer,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
