County of Alameda Self Sufficiency Centers

Oakland, CA

MWA designed the prototype for the County of Alameda’s new Self Sufficiency Centers to convey a sense of optimism to their clients and provide an environment that helps motivate them toward independence.

Through a series of workshops with Social Services and General Services Agencies staff, MWA developed the space program for the first center, a 65,000 square foot complex built at Oakland’s Eastmont Mall. We identified necessary adjacencies and the kind of environment that should be projected to staff and clients. MWA used a series of curving walls and diagonal corridors to give the centers a dynamic and energetic atmosphere.

Client: Department of Workforce and Benefit Administration, County of Alameda
Cost: $3.5 Million
Completion: 2000