Providence House (PH) provides trauma-informed, gender-responsive, community-oriented housing and social services for justice-impacted women, families experiencing homelessness, and permanent supportive housing clients. Central to PH’s mission is transitional housing and wraparound support for women with incarceration experience. In 2021, PH partnered with ESKW/Architects to explore how three Bed-Stuy properties could be redeveloped to serve more women and deepen program impact.

The resulting feasibility study followed a three-part process: analyzing various housing models, hosting surveys and workshops involving residents and community stakeholders, and test-fitting program-responsive schemes.

The final design, Lexington Avenue Shelter, is a 47,000 SF 6-story building with 85 bedrooms spread over five (5) 17-bed program floors along with Providence House’s administrative headquarters. The building was designed with a single entrance to exhibit the connection and support of the administration to the residents. The ground floor not only includes the administrative offices, but also a Community Room and a Recreation Room for residents to host guests without bringing individuals into the private, secure residential floors. A landscaped rear yard offers residents and staff outdoor recreation space for large or small gatherings.

Several design features emerged in response to the lived experiences of former residents. Central to the design strategy was creating an environment that balances structure and access to support with the privacy of a small bedroom, while also giving residents the agency to use common spaces as they choose. Common spaces in the center of each residential floor include a large open kitchen and dining room and a bright, warm living room lounge.  Typical multi-user bathrooms were substituted for single-user bathrooms off each bedroom wing.

The red brick façade features single window openings responsive to the window scale in the neighborhood townhouses. Curves at the exposed corners and main entrance convey a sense of embrace, drawing on mid-century modern inspiration to create an optimistic and welcoming presence. Planters along the façade will be used by the horticultural therapy program strengthening the connection between residents and the neighborhood.

The Lexington Avenue Shelter will offer a safe, dignified, and empowering environment for justice-impacted women, fostering healing through intentional design, supportive services, and community engagement. By centering participant voices at every stage, the project sets a new standard for trauma-informed, gender-responsive housing that can be replicated in other communities.

Client: Providence House.
Development Consultant: Rockabill Consulting / Prospect Housing. Program: shelter.
Size: 47,000 SF, 85 beds, 6 stories + cellar.
Team: Landscape Design: RKLA Studio. Structural Engineering: MLA Engineering. Mechanical Engineering: Loring Consulting Engineers. Civil Engineering: AKRF.