Establishing an urban fabric for the current and future River District, Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture is collaborating with ZGF on the State’s largest office complex to-date. Together with Hensel Phelps, the team will deliver a large campus with four high-performance office towers over a multi-function podium and a parking structure on a site north of Downtown Sacramento.

Each office building provides a rich amenities program calibrated for the needs of the building’s occupants as well as unique landscaped open spaces developed with RELM Studios. Featuring an integrated approach to sustainability, the project will exceed Title 24 by more than 15% and achieve the lowest practicable Energy Use Intensity (EUI).

The design of each tower conveys the significance of the civic functions housed within, while authentically reflecting the River District’s eclectic industrial character through the choice of materials including timber and metal. The site’s landscaping offers shade trees aligned to reinforce pedestrian circulation and wayfinding. The “Town Square”, a central public open space, and landscaped walkways at ground level tie together the podium and four towers into a coherent and inter-connected user experience. The towers are further connected by a three-story bridge between the two north towers, and a second level timber bridge across the Town Square, which forms a weather-protected link between the east and west of the campus. Amenity spaces are integrated into the podium, which is bisected by the Green Pathway, the central circulation spine that connects one end of the site to the other.

RBOC is designed to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) and zero net carbon (ZNC) for the entire site through State-purchased carbon-free green power.

Department of General Services, May Lee State Office Complex

State of California, 1021 O Street Office Building

Chico State University Services Building

Dreyfuss + Blackford has a specialty practice for Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and our newest project of this type is for the County of Contra Costa. The County’s new EOC replaces an existing outdated facility.

This new essential service facility houses the office of the County Sheriff and Command Staff. A state-of-the-art Emergency Situation Room within the EOC is equipped with the highest level of communication technology. Additionally, the new building has a public training and lecture hall with amenities to support media briefings in times of emergency operations and community events.

Contra Costa County’s EOC is designed to operate independently for up to a week in the event of a natural disaster or crisis where city utilities are unable to function.

The project was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification.

Contra Costa County, Emergency Operations Center

SMUD Headquarters Rehabilitation

The County of Santa Clara Animal Care and Control Department needed to replace their makeshift former donated residence which had several additions and portables, into an adequate home for the area’s needy animals. The new facility enables the County to handle specialty surgeries, conduct livestock rehabilitation, promote adoptions, and maintain a 94% live-release rate, one of California’s highest.

The County's new Animal Services Center has capacity for 54 dogs and 90 cats, with spaces for other types including small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and birds. To house and highlight larger livestock animals, a barn is situated along the main building frontage, increasing its visibility. Prominent interior glass walls and a central courtyard in the state-of-the-art 37,000-square-foot building highlight animals and community engagement spaces. Taking a distinct departure from traditional shelter design, dog kennels are organized around an outdoor landscaped courtyard named “The Park.” Together with surrounding “Get Acquainted” pods, the experience offers a bright and open area to meet and greet potential pets in a natural park-like environment.

Another key solution this project provides is its large educational meeting facility. Not only will animal-specific community events be held there, but other County agencies are able to utilize the assembly space for conferences and gatherings up to 150 occupants—a resource they previously lacked.

County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.

County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center

Confidential Client, Integrated Operations Center

The Dreyfuss &amp; Blackford team was commissioned to develop a new medical office building, adding to a well-established Sutter Health campus in Roseville, California. This 98,506 SF facility will include a 84,050 SF four story phase 1 with a 14,456 SF two story phase 2 addition. It will serve as the primary site for their Graduate Medical Education program. The addition of this facility will allow Sutter to expand its residency program to include more specialties and serve as a conduit for bringing new physicians to the campus. The project will include a Conference Center, Simulation Lab, Administrative Offices, and several outpatient clinical departments, including Cardiovascular, Bariatric, Patient Education, Dermatology, MOHS, Endocrinology, and Rheumatology.

The design of the new facility accounts for a very specific existing aesthetic and situational context and adds to it in a complimentary fashion. It provides an articulated, distinguished, and contemporary solution that is emblematic of the client’s goals for this project and the residency program that it will house.

The building will sit on a compact site, surrounded by existing Sutter facilities to the north, an apartment complex and commercial plaza to the east and south, and a new Sutter parking garage expansion - also a Dreyfuss &amp; Blackford project - to the west. The location and site characteristics led the project team to develop a highly integrated and multi-pronged design approach that accounts for ease of wayfinding, traffic calming measures, a potential future pedestrian bridge, and optimization of vehicular and pedestrian routes on site.

The project has adopted an exterior envelope design and construction strategy that accounts for the compact site and the aggressive residency program move-in timeframe. A prefabricated thi shell concrete panel system has been chosen as the building envelope.

The building form is informed by the Sutter Health standard clinic pod configuration and presents a layout that maximizes structural efficiency, connectivity, and internal circulation. Access to daylight and outdoor views is also prioritized. The four-story curtain wall adjacent to the lobby and multiple punched windows per level establish a visual connection with nature. Access to outdoors is an important component of the design, which is highlighted in the incorporation of landscaped seating area close to the main entrance and a private patio space for use by residents and staff. These areas serve as places of respite and provide an outdoor alternative to indoor waiting spaces. The above indicated design strategies create an environment rooted in nature, which in a healthcare setting can reduce stress, fatigue, and lower blood pressure. It also caters to the unique programmatic requirements of the residency program by providing a well-designed outdoor space that expands the interior lounge area and provides an enhanced user experience for current and future residents, physicians, and staff.

A well-crafted balance between building efficiency, volumetric expression, façade articulation and enhanced user experience has allowed for a final product that is contextual but also serves as a new landmark addition to the eastern edge of Sutter Health’s Roseville campus.

Sutter Health Roseville Medical Center MOB 7

The expansion of residential suburbs in the 1960's and 1970's left our central city with stately but underutilized school facilities. Fremont School is one of 10 examples in the area that was designed by Dean &amp; Dean. It is a beautiful brick and terracotta building in the Spanish Revival style on a quiet Midtown street. It had a second life as an adult education center, which was shuttered in 2012.

After much discussion and negotiation, Fremont School now is the new creative home for Sacramento’s performing arts community, complete with outdoor performance space. The high ceilings and large classrooms perfectly suit rehearsal and teaching needs for <a href="https://www.sacballet.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sacramento Ballet</a>, <a href="https://www.mckeeverdance.com/#index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">McKeever School of Irish Dance</a>, <a href="https://sacprepmusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sacramento Preparatory Music Academy</a>, and several others.

There are many technical challenges to adapting an early 20th century non-reinforced masonry building to the needs of 21st century performing arts. For one, the west wing of the school needed a truly creative structural solution to make the former classrooms and hallways open up for ballet studios. With <a href="https://buehlerengineering.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Buehler Engineering</a>, an innovative solution of 36 post-tension cables made this need a reality. The red cables, typically buried within new concrete, are intentionally left visible and are viewable from the first floor School of the Sacramento Ballet studios. The structural system was more complex than other concepts but once optimized, it was the lightest and least costly solution for the budget.

On March 17, 2015, the Sacramento City Council approved spending to renovate the building for the performing arts community in Sacramento. On May 11, 2015, <a href="https://www.rsconstruction.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rudolph &amp; Sletten</a> started construction on the project. On March 9, 2016 the project - which was renamed <a href="https://www.claramidtown.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CLARA</a> - officially opened.

CLARA received the 2017 Rehabilitation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation; and Honor Award from the AIA Central Valley as well as the Divine Detail Award for the innovative structural solution. In 2017, the project also received an Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation from SEAOCC.

Photos by Chip Allen; historic photos courtesy of Center for Sacramento History.

CLARA, E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts

We were engaged by the Public Employees Retirement System in the 1980’s to create a forward-thinking, 100-year headquarters for the organization. Lincoln Plaza quickly became a Sacramento landmark and displays many advanced features that have come into their own in the 21st Century. There were many firsts – one of the first office buildings to utilized raised computer floors throughout; to utilize an integrated energy management system for lights, shades and conditioning; and to feature a fully landscaped green roof. The timeless and quality design has aged very gracefully and the building remains a viable and much admired headquarters.

Over the intervening years, we have helped CalPERS to renovate nearly all of the building spaces, making good use of the modular systems and flexible open office environment from the original design parti. The raised access floors, modular panel system and carpet tiles all contribute to the ease of reconfiguration, energy and technology updates throughout the complex. In 2009 the building was certified LEED EB Gold by the US Green Building Council. Lincoln Plaza remains the vital heart and home to the largest pension fund in the United States, an elegant and timeless landmark.

Lincoln Plaza was <a href="https://dbarch.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AL_LP.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">featured</a> in the February 2013 issue of Architectural Review from London, and the AIA Central Valley awarded the project the Regional Recognition Award the same year.

Lincoln Plaza CalPERS Headquarters

Museum of Science and Curiosity

In need of a more prominent local presence, the organization which supports the architecture profession in the State, AIA California (AIA CA), moved their headquarters to a Midtown building which was once occupied by architect Ralph Vitiello’s practice. Originally built in the 1930’s, the existing brick building has tremendous character with concrete floors and exposed wood trusses.
As each client is unique in what they do and how they work, we embedded ourselves in AIA CA’s work environment to understand how their new space needed to function and feel. Through a series of benchmarking tours, ideation charrettes and sketch sessions we designed a space tailored to their organizational needs which includes neighborhoods and spaces supportive of different work modes, as well as areas encouraging collaboration. A variety of conference spaces also allow flexibility for meetings, events and focused work when necessary.

On the exterior an entry portal addresses the street and creates a prominent entrance into the new space. Other features include a curated library where books featuring California architects and designers will be displayed. A “big table” serves as the staff break area and also a pre-function space for events and AIA Executive Committee meetings. This public side can be closed off through a series of full height sliding doors, providing privacy for the staff offices.

This new space better serves the AIA CA as they continue their mission for California architects.

AIA California Headquarters

c0001-state-of-california-dgs-richards-boulevard-office-complex-rboc-2020-16

C0001 State of California, DGS Richards Boulevard Office Complex (RBOC), 2020

Establishing an urban fabric for the current and future River District, Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture is collaborating with ZGF on the State’s largest office complex to-date. Together with Hensel Phelps, the team will deliver a large campus with four high-performance office towers over a multi-function podium and a parking structure on a site north of Downtown Sacramento.
Each office building provides a rich amenities program calibrated for the needs of the building’s occupants as well as unique landscaped open spaces developed with RELM Studios. Featuring an integrated approach to sustainability, the project will exceed Title 24 by more than 15% and achieve the lowest practicable Energy Use Intensity (EUI).
The design of each tower conveys the significance of the civic functions housed within, while authentically reflecting the River District’s eclectic industrial character through the choice of materials including timber and metal. The site’s landscaping offers shade trees aligned to reinforce pedestrian circulation and wayfinding. The “Town Square”, a central public open space, and landscaped walkways at ground level tie together the podium and four towers into a coherent and inter-connected user experience. The towers are further connected by a three-story bridge between the two north towers, and a second level timber bridge across the Town Square, which forms a weather-protected link between the east and west of the campus. Amenity spaces are integrated into the podium, which is bisected by the Green Pathway, the central circulation spine that connects one end of the site to the other.
RBOC is designed to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) and zero net carbon (ZNC) for the entire site through State-purchased carbon-free green power.

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B8016_DGS_1021_O_St_Office_18_W

This new 10-story state office high-rise at the corner of 10th &amp; O Streets in Sacramento, fulfills critical office space infrastructure needs for the State of California. It serves as a temporary home for the legislative and executive elected officials for the duration of the Capitol Annex renovation. Afterwards, the building will remain the home for the legislative and executive staff.
Our Progressive Design-Build team of HOK and Hensel Phelps achieved the State’s aggressive energy use goals of Zero Net Energy and Carbon Neutrality through innovative design solutions which use a fraction of the energy of conventional office space. An energy efficient building skin allows for high levels of daylighting, minimizing direct sun on exterior glazing. Additionally, the split-core concept allows for an open plan with naturally-lit waiting areas, and several clustered conference spaces and common great rooms with views of the State Capitol. A highly-transparent open stair connects great rooms, encouraging impromptu meetings and interactions. The latest technology in lobby spaces and hearing rooms on the first two floors allows constituents to participate in government both inside hearing rooms and while in queue. Amenities include spaces for caucus meetings, conference committee meetings, general meeting rooms, legislative and executive branch offices, and integrated parking. With unparalleled views of Sacramento, the building will house 1,250 staff at opening and up to 2,200 staff in the future. A ground floor café will be open to the public after the Capitol Annex renovation is complete.
The project has a LEED Platinum certification and was the first to use Progressive Design-Build for the State of California.

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C2021.00 Chico State University Services 0500

The University Services Building at California State University, Chico is the new home for the Facilities Management &amp; Services (FMS). Located on the periphery of the campus, the building location optimizes functionality and flow within the existing facilities service yard. An open floor plan accommodates conference rooms, private offices, open workstations, work-room spaces, and other building support spaces.

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B8006_Contra_Costa_EOC_Sheriff_15_W

Dreyfuss + Blackford has a specialty practice for Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and our newest project of this type is for the County of Contra Costa. The County’s new EOC replaces an existing outdated facility.
This new essential service facility houses the office of the County Sheriff and Command Staff. A state-of-the-art Emergency Situation Room within the EOC is equipped with the highest level of communication technology. Additionally, the new building has a public training and lecture hall with amenities to support media briefings in times of emergency operations and community events.
Contra Costa County’s EOC is designed to operate independently for up to a week in the event of a natural disaster or crisis where city utilities are unable to function.
The project was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification.

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B4006 SMUD Headquarters Renovation, 2014

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B4006_SMUD_HQ_Renovation_74_W

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SMUD_HQ_Renovation

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SMUD Headquarters Renovation, 2014

The SMUD Headquarters Rehabilitation is a transformative project that honors the legacy of a mid-century modern icon while reshaping it for the needs of today’s workforce. Through thoughtful restoration, preservation, and targeted interventions—including an addition and comprehensive tenant improvements—the building now supports a dynamic workplace rooted in sustainability, resilience, and design excellence. This is more than a rehabilitation—it’s a reinvestment in Sacramento’s architectural heritage and SMUD’s forward-thinking mission.

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Santa Clara Animal Services Center

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Santa_Clara_Co_Animal_Services_Small

The County of Santa Clara Animal Care and Control Department needed to replace their makeshift former donated residence which had several additions and portables, into an adequate home for the area’s needy animals. The new facility enables the County to handle specialty surgeries, conduct livestock rehabilitation, promote adoptions, and maintain a 94% live-release rate, one of California’s highest.
The County&#8217;s new Animal Services Center has capacity for 54 dogs and 90 cats, with spaces for other types including small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and birds. To house and highlight larger livestock animals, a barn is situated along the main building frontage, increasing its visibility. Prominent interior glass walls and a central courtyard in the state-of-the-art 37,000-square-foot building highlight animals and community engagement spaces. Taking a distinct departure from traditional shelter design, dog kennels are organized around an outdoor landscaped courtyard named “The Park.” Together with surrounding “Get Acquainted” pods, the experience offers a bright and open area to meet and greet potential pets in a natural park-like environment.
Another key solution this project provides is its large educational meeting facility. Not only will animal-specific community events be held there, but other County agencies are able to utilize the assembly space for conferences and gatherings up to 150 occupants—a resource they previously lacked.
County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.

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B8011_Portland_General_Electric_Integrated_Operations_Center_14_W

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B8011_Portland_General_Electric_Integrated_Operations_Center_10_W

The new Integrated Operations Center (IOC) is a state-of-the-art, secure, resilient and modern facility designed to withstand anticipated seismic and other natural disaster events; as well as house new operating processes that recognize the importance of distribution system operations, cybersecurity and transmission system operations.
The facility houses a new, modern control room consolidates and/or co-locates departments and functional groups who work closely together to manage the stable and continuous flow of power through the integrated grid. It provides the infrastructure, network architecture, growth and capacity to install a new, advanced distribution management system and separate smart grid management tools. The new IOC provides the necessary foundation to deliver operational technology initiatives and manage the grid of the future reliably, safely and efficiently.

c1014_sutter-roseville_mob_7_13_o

C1014_Sutter Roseville_MOB_7_13_O

The Dreyfuss &amp; Blackford team was commissioned to develop a new 98,506 SF medical office building as an integral addition to the esteemed Sutter Health campus in Roseville, California. This facility includes an 84,050 SF four-story phase 1 and a 14,456 SF two-story phase 2 addition, designed to house Sutter&#8217;s Graduate Medical Education program. By expanding its residency program to accommodate more specialties, the facility serves as a pivotal hub for attracting new physicians to the campus.
Key features of the facility include a Conference Center, Simulation Lab, Administrative Offices, and outpatient clinical departments such as Cardiovascular, Bariatric, Patient Education, Dermatology, MOHS, Endocrinology, and Rheumatology.
The design embraces the existing aesthetic context while introducing a contemporary, distinguished solution aligned with the client’s vision. Situated amidst surrounding Sutter facilities, an apartment complex, a commercial plaza, and a newly expanded parking garage (also a Dreyfuss &amp; Blackford project), the building integrates seamlessly into its compact site.
A prefabricated thin-shell concrete panel system was selected for the exterior envelope, ensuring efficiency and meeting the aggressive residency program move-in timeframe. The building&#8217;s form optimizes structural efficiency, connectivity, and internal circulation, prioritizing access to daylight and outdoor views. A four-story curtain wall adjacent to the lobby and multiple punched windows per level establish a visual connection with nature.
Outdoor spaces, including landscaped seating near the main entrance and a private patio for residents and staff, provide areas for relaxation and outdoor alternatives to waiting areas. These elements contribute to a healing environment known to reduce stress and enhance well-being in healthcare settings.
Balancing building efficiency, volumetric expression, façade articulation, and user experience, the project stands as a contextual landmark on the eastern edge of Sutter Health’s Roseville campus, embodying innovation and functionality.

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B3017 CLARA Midtown, E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing

b3017-clara-midtown-e-claire-raley-studios-for-the-performing-7

The expansion of residential suburbs in the 1960&#8217;s and 1970&#8217;s left our central city with stately but underutilized school facilities. Fremont School is one of 10 examples in the area that was designed by Dean &amp; Dean. It is a beautiful brick and terracotta building in the Spanish Revival style on a quiet Midtown street. It had a second life as an adult education center, which was shuttered in 2012.
After much discussion and negotiation, Fremont School now is the new creative home for Sacramento’s performing arts community, complete with outdoor performance space. The high ceilings and large classrooms perfectly suit rehearsal and teaching needs for <a href="https://www.sacballet.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sacramento Ballet</a>, <a href="https://www.mckeeverdance.com/#index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">McKeever School of Irish Dance</a>, <a href="https://sacprepmusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sacramento Preparatory Music Academy</a>, and several others.
There are many technical challenges to adapting an early 20th century non-reinforced masonry building to the needs of 21st century performing arts. For one, the west wing of the school needed a truly creative structural solution to make the former classrooms and hallways open up for ballet studios. With <a href="https://buehlerengineering.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Buehler Engineering</a>, an innovative solution of 36 post-tension cables made this need a reality. The red cables, typically buried within new concrete, are intentionally left visible and are viewable from the first floor School of the Sacramento Ballet studios. The structural system was more complex than other concepts but once optimized, it was the lightest and least costly solution for the budget.
On March 17, 2015, the Sacramento City Council approved spending to renovate the building for the performing arts community in Sacramento. On May 11, 2015, <a href="https://www.rsconstruction.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rudolph &amp; Sletten</a> started construction on the project. On March 9, 2016 the project &#8211; which was renamed <a href="https://www.claramidtown.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CLARA</a> &#8211; officially opened.
CLARA received the 2017 Rehabilitation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation; and Honor Award from the AIA Central Valley as well as the Divine Detail Award for the innovative structural solution. In 2017, the project also received an Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation from SEAOCC.
Photos by Chip Allen; historic photos courtesy of Center for Sacramento History.

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81101_CalPERS_Lincoln_Plaza_82

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CalPERS_Lincoln_Plaza_85_mob

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A9007 Museum of Science and Curiosity, 2002-2021

The SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) is a transformation project at the confluence of history, science, and community impact. Formerly the Powerhouse Science Center, MOSAC reimagines a long-dormant riverfront power station as a vibrant hub for science education, exploration, and civic engagement. Set against the banks of the Sacramento River, the museum is a cornerstone in the city’s riverfront revitalization and a destination for learning that connects past innovation with future discovery.

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B8000_AIACA_Offices_04_W

In need of a more prominent local presence, the organization which supports the architecture profession in the State, AIA California (AIA CA), moved their headquarters to a Midtown building which was once occupied by architect Ralph Vitiello’s practice. Originally built in the 1930’s, the existing brick building has tremendous character with concrete floors and exposed wood trusses.
As each client is unique in what they do and how they work, we embedded ourselves in AIA CA’s work environment to understand how their new space needed to function and feel. Through a series of benchmarking tours, ideation charrettes and sketch sessions we designed a space tailored to their organizational needs which includes neighborhoods and spaces supportive of different work modes, as well as areas encouraging collaboration. A variety of conference spaces also allow flexibility for meetings, events and focused work when necessary.
On the exterior an entry portal addresses the street and creates a prominent entrance into the new space. Other features include a curated library where books featuring California architects and designers will be displayed. A “big table” serves as the staff break area and also a pre-function space for events and AIA Executive Committee meetings. This public side can be closed off through a series of full height sliding doors, providing privacy for the staff offices.
This new space better serves the AIA CA as they continue their mission for California architects.

Civic

Education

Healthcare

Housing

Infrastructure

The design of MOSAC grows directly from its context—physically and symbolically. Occupying the site of a once-abandoned PG&E power station, the museum forms a key part of Sacramento’s waterfront activation. It anchors the Robert T. Matsui Waterfront Park and serves as a southern gateway to the 32-mile American River Bike Trail, inviting cyclists, families, and visitors to engage with science through architecture and landscape.

Vacant for over 50 years, the original 30,000-square-foot structure was carefully rehabilitated, including the construction of a new interior floor level. A striking two-story, 22,000-square-foot addition extends from the east, housing classrooms, a café, offices, and a light-filled lobby. A 120-seat planetarium punctuates the building’s mass, its zinc-clad hemispheric dome signaling the museum’s outward-looking mission. The facade is inscribed with angled vector lines—connecting the building to satellites, landmarks, and broader ideas—reminding visitors of our place within a vast, interconnected world.

Originally designed in 1912 by noted architect Willis Polk in the Classical Revival style, the PG&E River Station B was formally closed in 1954 and lay dormant until MOSAC’s rebirth. Now listed on the National, California, and Sacramento Registers of Historic Places, the building is both a preserved landmark and a cutting-edge cultural destination. MOSAC is LEED Platinum certified, affirming its commitment not only to educational excellence, but also to environmental stewardship and sustainable design.

After more than 60 years of continuous use, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Headquarters has undergone a comprehensive rehabilitation. This revitalization of the 146,000-square-foot landmark carefully preserves the spirit of its mid-century modern design while upgrading the building for 21st-century performance. The transformation balances innovation with preservation, addressing the concerns of the historic community while supporting SMUD’s mission as a sustainability leader.

Originally designed by our firm in 1958 for a growing utility, the SMUD Headquarters has come full circle with a complete interior and exterior renovation. Commissioned again in 2014, we approached the rehabilitation with deep respect for the building’s legacy and spatial logic. A discreet new addition introduces abundant daylight and expanded views, while a formerly enclosed central stair and mechanical shaft was replaced with an open stair to enhance vertical circulation and visual connection between wings. Updated open office areas now support a multi-generational workforce with flexible meeting, collaboration, and break spaces—carefully modernized while honoring the original five-foot planning grid.

The rehabilitation extended beyond the building envelope to include thoughtful site and landscape improvements that maintain the integrity of the original 13-acre campus. Significant historic features were preserved and enhanced, reinforcing the building’s relationship to its surroundings. As part of this effort, artist Wayne Thiebaud’s iconic mosaic tile mural, Water City, was carefully cleaned and restored. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the SMUD Headquarters stands as both a cultural landmark and a continued symbol of civic pride.

Order Here

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Dreyfuss-Blackford-cover-2-1920x1125

This book celebrates seventy years of outstanding design by Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture. Known for its thorough research, thoughtful approach, and modernist aesthetic, the Northern California firm consistently produces exceptional projects. Ranging from office complexes to university buildings to cultural institutions, the work always focuses on people and their interactions with the designed environment. An exploration of the company’s iconic history, an examination of the architects’ well-considered practices and processes, and examples of noteworthy recent projects make this book both a commemoration of seven decades of noteworthy design and a definition of the future of the firm.

Department of General Services, May Lee State Office Complex

State of California, 1021 O Street Office Building

Chico State University Services Building

Contra Costa County, Emergency Operations Center

SMUD Headquarters Rehabilitation

County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center

Confidential Client, Integrated Operations Center

Sutter Health Roseville Medical Center MOB 7

CLARA, E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Plaza CalPERS Headquarters

Museum of Science and Curiosity

AIA California Headquarters

Museum of Science and Curiosity

Museum of Science and Curiosity

County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center

County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center

SMUD Headquarters Rehabilitation

SMUD Headquarters Rehabilitation

Seventy Years