Set against the rolling hills of San Luis Obispo, the new Probation Department is designed as a place of balance between openness and security, between public presence and private retreat. Expansive glass defines the public lobby and gathering areas, welcoming visitors with transparency and framing views of the surrounding hillsides. Inside, open office environments extend this sense of light and connection, allowing natural daylight to infuse the workplace and foster collaboration among staff.
Carved onto the slope, a stepped patio with integrated planters provides staff with a private outdoor retreat. The landscape softens the building’s edge and offers a quiet place for reflection and respite.
The architecture embraces its setting, weaving natural light, landscape, and topography into the daily experience of both staff and visitors, reinforcing the Center’s role as both a civic institution and a restorative place of work.
