At a Glance
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19
Acres
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375K
Square Feet
- Location
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Offices
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- Location
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Offices
Share
Haven Transitional Housing
Located just outside downtown Philadelphia, the 19-acre (8-hectare) site has been used for more than a century for the detention and correction of individuals forgotten by society. Today, this publicly owned land will help the City of Philadelphia provide transitional housing for the chronically unhoused.
The City engaged our team to help create a conceptual master plan for a renewed facility with wellness spaces for various types of services for residents affected by addiction, homelessness, mental health challenges, and chronic and acute medical issues.
Built in 1956, the existing complex on the site had served elderly and indigent city residents as the Riverview Home for the Aged. We drew on evidence-based studies of therapeutic landscapes and empathetic practices of resident personas to develop our trauma-informed design approach for this new community.
Our plan addresses the unique needs of the main resident neighborhood groups¡ªveterans, men, women, and seniors. Trauma-informed design emphasizes five key elements¡ªviews of nature, varied lighting strategies, residential finishes, minimal clutter, and autonomy and control. We incorporated these ideas into each neighborhood, providing a mix of inwardly focused resident amenities, campus-oriented therapy, and support and public spaces.
Haven¡¯s unique approach brings together housing and health, with wrap-around services for formerly unhoused individuals in a transitional housing program. This conceptual master plan is in line with the Mayor of Philadelphia¡¯s vision to create a ¡°wellness village¡± along the Delaware River waterfront.
At a Glance
-
19
Acres
-
375K
Square Feet
- Location
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Offices
-
- Location
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Offices
Share
Adam Ferrari, Principal, Architecture
The design of our cities and neighborhoods has a profound impact on our overall health and wellness.
Jacquelyn Nemitz, Associate, Education
Imagination forms innovative solutions. It takes a team to turn creative visions into the built environment. Let¡¯s imagine together.
Stephen Parker, Senior Associate, Buildings, Health
By harmonizing mental health environments with evidence and empathy, we can design for humanity at its most vulnerable.
Amy Seek, Principal
As public realm designers, we have a special role in nurturing the social life of a city.
Jon Sell, Principal
The social stigma surrounding behavioral health can be transformed by a well-designed facility that creates a positive community impact.
We¡¯re better together
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