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Santa Maria Juvenile Justice Center
Santa Maria, California 
Photography:
Henry Cabala Photography
The Santa Maria Juvenile Justice Center enhances the existing fifty-bed, single courtroom Juvenile Complex for the North County of Santa Barbara. The new buildings comprise housing, courtroom, and intake/release areas.
The public face of the ensemble, the Courthouse, contains juvenile judicial services and secure departmental offices. Three thirty-bed, self-contained housing bays are designed for direct staff-detainee contact. Each housing bay contains a dining area, kitchenette, recreation yard, sleeping and day rooms. Views from the housing for juveniles are to northern rolling grass hills.
The exterior organization and image of the buildings are in a direct response to the neighboring suburban condition of the site, as well as to the proximity to the local airport. Materials include colored block and concrete floors, natural wood, and galvanized steel roofs. Due to its capability to be manipulated as structure and skin, its cost effectiveness, low maintenance, and aesthetic value, concrete masonry block is used in a variety of patterns and colors as exterior and interior finish.
CMU is traditionally a very good choice for these types of long lifecycle, heavily used Civic structures. Interior large light scoops and northern glazing throughout the scheme provide generous amounts of daylight, which is reflected into communal, staff, and waiting areas. The use of natural light is especially helpful to create a positive environment for the staff, as well as the detainees. The introduction of natural light into these areas will provide a calming, pleasing environment that will support the rehabilitative efforts of the programs staff, as well as reduce staff turnover rates, which provide better value to the taxpayers.
Architects:
Ravatt, Albrecht &
Associates, Inc.
3203 Lightening Street,
Suite 201
Santa Maria, CA
93456
Gregg Ravatt, AIA
Principal
HDR Architecture,
Inc.
251 South Lake Avenue,
Suite 1000
Pasadena, CA
91101-3020
Al Korth, AIA
Principal
Structural
Engineer:
HDR Architecture,
Inc.
General
Contractor:
A. J. Diani Construction,
Inc.
Masonry
Contractor:
Santa Maria
Masonry
Block Producer:
Air Vol Block,
Inc.
Owner:
County of Santa Barbara
