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Architecture
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| # 279 |
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| Completion |
6 / 2026 |
| Specific Use of Building |
Transitional Housing / Community Services Building |
| Project Location |
San Bernardino, CA |
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The San Bernardino Community Wellness Center (SBCWC) was designed to restore dignity, stability, and opportunity for individuals experiencing homelessness. Located on a 2.5-acre urban infill site near residential neighborhoods and community-serving uses, the $28.5 million BHCIP Homekey Round 2 project brings together interim housing, emergency shelter, supportive services, healthcare access, and shared amenities into a cohesive, trauma-informed campus that supports residents on the path to permanent housing.
A defining feature is the adaptive reuse of the early-1900s Central City Lutheran Mission Sanctuary as a 75-bed emergency shelter. Preserving and repurposing this historic community asset reduced construction impacts and costs while reinforcing the site’s longstanding mission of serving vulnerable populations. Together, the shelter, interim housing, health clinic, and support services create an integrated continuum of care where residents can rebuild routines, access resources, and move toward independence.
The campus includes 140 interim housing units organized around a protected central courtyard, along with a two-story support building, dining and laundry facilities, pet-care areas, counseling and interview rooms, computer and training spaces, staff offices, storage, and outdoor gathering areas. The support building serves as the campus hub, consolidating case management, employment services, education, and daily support functions in a clear, accessible plan.
The project faced major site and schedule challenges. Its irregularly shaped parcel was constrained by surrounding streets, neighboring properties, an existing residence that could not be acquired, and an overhead utility easement and power pole within the proposed support building footprint. Aggressive Homekey deadlines required close coordination among the owner, design team, consultants, and contractors while responding to evolving site conditions. Modular housing accelerated delivery and occupancy, while careful planning, strategic building placement, and efficient circulation maximized functionality, flexibility, and resident safety.
Architecturally, the campus avoids an institutional character through a balance of order, warmth, and openness. Residential buildings provide private rooms with individual entries and clear orientation, supporting autonomy and dignity. The central courtyard offers outdoor dining, gathering, and respite space and functions as the social heart of the campus. Natural light, durable finishes, wood accents, transparent classroom fronts, and thoughtful color create a welcoming and respectful environment.
Sustainable and resilient strategies are embedded in both the campus design and its social mission. Adaptive reuse, urban infill development, and the consolidation of housing, healthcare, and supportive services reduce resource consumption and limit travel between fragmented systems of care. Durable materials, efficient circulation, adaptable support spaces, and outdoor amenities enhance long-term operations. Most importantly, SBCWC advances social sustainability by providing a stable, trauma-informed environment where residents can heal, build skills, strengthen community connections, and transition successfully to permanent housing. |
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