Housing & Support Center

The Opportunity

Seeking to both increase the number of beds provided for youth support and improve the communal, educational, and urban experience for youth and administration alike, this undertaking presents the organization with a unique opportunity to incorporate transparency, flexibility, and access to nature in a reimagined home, offering participants dignity, opportunity and choice in new ways.

Our Approach

KSS Architects developed a series of diagrams after conducting community engagement and benchmarking similar facilities nationwide that each portray unique ways of achieving the key project goals. Moving away from the outdated bunk bed style dorms, the new facility will offer single and double occupancy rooms, along with more single bathrooms to offer residents privacy as they heal. Sited on an existing parking lot, the new construction facility will enable our client to support 76 young adults and 20 mothers and their babies, along with 50-90 units of affordable housing. KSS is helping navigate the next steps in regards to funding and permitting. The new facility will greatly enhance the lives of both residents and staff, solidifying the client's brand identity and allowing what they mean to the city to be represented inside and out. It would also reinforce the organization’s place as not just a shelter, but a home, and afford dignity to the community.

Program

Learning center, administrative offices, dining, residential, greenspace, commons, youth support programs