San Ramon Dougherty Center
At a glance
The Dougherty Center was reimagined as a community arts destination that supports creative programming, cultural engagement and public events for San Ramon residents. Flexible, modernized spaces now accommodate a range of arts, educational and community activities, strengthening the center’s role as a civic gathering place.
The challenge
The city sought to repurpose and modernize an existing community facility while addressing structural and operational needs. The renovation required improvements that would support the building’s long-term use as a community arts center while integrating upgrades that enhanced safety, functionality and user experience. In addition, the project included a seismic retrofit, requiring careful coordination between architectural and structural improvements within an occupied public-facility environment.
Our response
As the City’s on-call architectural partner, GHD Design provided architectural and structural design services to support the transformation of the Dougherty Center into the Dougherty Station Community Arts Center. The project combined facility modernization with a seismic retrofit to improve building performance, functionality and long-term resilience. Working within the City’s broader civic facilities improvement program, the design team developed improvements that aligned with community goals while creating a flexible environment capable of supporting arts programming, community events and public activities.
The impact
The completed renovation established a renewed community resource that supports arts, culture, education and public engagement in San Ramon. By modernizing the facility and improving its structural performance through seismic upgrades, the project extended the useful life of an important civic asset while creating new opportunities for community programming. The transformation of the Dougherty Center into an arts-focused destination strengthens the City's network of public facilities and reinforces its commitment to providing welcoming, accessible spaces that enrich community life.