San Rafael Transit Center

Designed by Robin Chiang for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, the San Rafael Transit Center was completed in 1992 and received a Merit Award from AIA San Mateo County. Initially met with concern that it might attract transients to a struggling area, the project instead became a catalyst for urban renewal. Its airy configuration and human-scaled structures gave the facility the character of a welcoming urban center, harmonizing with neighboring buildings while enhancing safety and activity in the district.

Occupying a full city block at the edge of downtown San Rafael, the design balanced the city’s call for a traditional appearance with the client’s vision for modern efficiency. Drawing inspiration from the steel structures of the Industrial Revolution, Chiang combined large-scale steel columns and beams with fine trusswork, concrete column wrappers, and etched-glass pavilions. The result is a durable, contextually sensitive transit hub—completed on time and on budget at $2.1 million—that continues to serve as a model for civic design and community revitalization.