FACILITY OF THE MONTH
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The dayrooms at the Napa County Jail are filled with natural light, and carpet squares reduce the instiutional feel of the space. | Photo Credit (all): Technical Imagery Studios
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A New Foundation for Justice In the wake of earthquake damage, Napa County overcame a decade of challenges to build a new, modern jail
By Kat Balster
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n 2014, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook the core of Napa County, damaging buildings, buckling streets and compromising the structure of the local jail. However, this damage wasn’t the only challenge faced by the facility. Built in 1975, the jail had long been misaligned with the county’s modern correctional needs. The structural damage caused by the earthquake became a catalyst to move a new jail project forward. Designed by Sacramento, Calif.-based Lionakis and built by Woodland, Calif.-based Broward Builders, the new Napa County Jail reflects years of collaboration. “We had to work together. Everyone had different roles, but we solved problems as one team,” said Broward Builders Superintendent Vlade Dedyk. Principal Architect for Lionakis Maynard Feist, called the effort one of the projects he was most proud of, not just because of the building, but because of how the team came together.
The Timeline and the Team Located in the heart of California wine country, the new Napa County Jail sits just outside downtown Napa on a secure campus near the Napa State Hospital. At 109,350 square feet—and with a total project cost of $133 million—the new facility offers 332 rated beds, nearly 60 more than the antiquated structure it replaced. The facility was delivered through a traditional design-bid-build method. Initial planning for the replacement jail stretches back years before the 2014 earthquake, but the project gained real momentum in 2018 when Lionakis was brought on to lead the program validation and confirm the feasibility of the budget before launching the full buildout. That process included reassessing circulation, housing, and program space to align with a modern direct-supervision model and Napa County’s operational goals.
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The county received $20 million in supplemental SB 844 state funds following the earthquake to add to the original partial $2.8 million SB 863 award. This allowed for the full buildout of a single-level campus organized around pod housing, reentry services, and dedicated mental and medical healthcare spaces. Local funds covered the remaining $113 million, a substantial county investment in the facility long-term. Construction began shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, creating delays and cost escalations that required close coordination. “We went through budget exercises to trim costs without sacrificing quality or square footage,” Feist said. “The team was all in. It was a genuine partnership between the county, designers and builders.” Even with challenges, the Napa County Jail had its ribbon cutting in May 2025, with phased occupancy to follow.
Supervision, Wellness and a Human-Centered Approach The new Napa County Jail was designed to reflect a shift in how the county approaches incarceration, prioritizing human engagement, wellness and direct supervision. This philosophy was led by Napa County Director of Corrections Dina Jose, who drew from her experience at San Joaquin County to reshape Napa’s facility. “[In] our old [Napa Jail], you’d find three different design styles across four floors,” Jose said. “It was more important to have staff in place to interact with the incarcerated. To be there to problem solve and engage.” The focus on engagement also extended to the jail’s approach to mental and medical health services. Rather than label it with a stigmatizing name, the team created what is now called the Wellness Center, a 28-bed therapeutic housing unit designed for individuals needing acute or ongoing care. “The name came from my transition team,” Jose said. “They said, ‘Can we call it the