Art of Living to open wellness center in Oakland’s Scottish Rite building

The Art of Living Foundation plans to turn Oakland’s historic Scottish Rite building on Lake Merritt into a meditation, learning and community center. The site will inaugurate Dec. 14, 2026 with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and the foundation says public programming will expand in the weeks that follow.

Why it matters: - The project gives a nearly century-old Oakland landmark a new use centered on meditation, education and community connection. - The center is designed to serve Bay Area residents with practical well-being tools and open programming for people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. - The move adds a new civic and cultural gathering place in a city known for diversity, arts and community engagement.

What happened: - The Art of Living Foundation announced plans to transform Oakland’s historic Scottish Rite building at 1547 Lakeside Drive into a center for meditation, learning and community connection. - The center will be inaugurated on Dec. 14, 2026, with Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in attendance. - The inauguration will launch a week of special programs and gatherings. - The organization says additional details about the Dec. 15 inauguration week and public participation opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks. - For more information, visit the foundation’s website.

The details: - The Oakland Scottish Rite building was completed in 1927 and sits overlooking Lake Merritt. - The building is approximately 85,000 square feet and includes monumental columns, ornate interiors, a grand ballroom and an auditorium. - Over the decades, the landmark has hosted performances, celebrations and civic gatherings. - The center’s programming will include meditation, breathwork, yoga, personal development workshops, retreats, gatherings and conversations. - More than 1,000 visitors from across the Bay Area have already visited the center ahead of its formal inauguration. - The foundation says the space will welcome collaborations with local organizations, educators, artists and community leaders.

Between the lines: - The project blends preservation and reinvention, keeping a prominent historic structure active while redirecting it toward wellness and community use. - Art of Living is positioning the Oakland center as both a local meeting place and a broader extension of its global mission around inner well-being and humanitarian service. - The early visitor count suggests there is already curiosity about the building’s next chapter.

What’s next: - Art of Living will announce more details on inauguration-week programming and public participation in the coming weeks. - The foundation plans to continue building relationships with Oakland residents and local partners to shape the center’s future offerings. - The Oakland location will draw on Art of Living’s global experience as it develops new programs for the Bay Area.