SRBCC is a cultural organization with a mission to preserve and promote appreciation of the culture and arts of Puerto Rico and its African heritage, through innovative programming and cultural events for the community.

Full-scale renovation of a 7000 s.f. theater and 1,200 s.f. of retail storefronts in the Hermosa neighborhood in Chicago defines a role for SRBCC as a truly exciting presence in the neighborhood.with expanded programs to showcase Puerto Rican culture, dance and music The project includes a multi-purpose space used for theater, music, dance, spoken word, films and a variety of classes.  A kitchen & serving area support events, parties and an after-school program. The lobby doubles as a gallery and exhibition space and the “star lounge” works both as a small group room and a classroom. Also included are staff offices, conference space and a “tech hub” with donated computers for community use.

Built on a shoe-string budget, the project is a success story in crowd sourcing materials, labor, design and art. 45% of all materials of the project are salvaged/re-purposed, and 26 different community-based volunteer projects over 4 volunteer days led to the final beautiful product. The center, which offers services either free of charge or for nominal fees, has become an exciting and important cultural landmark for the community residents.

SHED Studio partnered with Designs for Dignity (D4D) on this project

Growing Home is a non-profit organization that provides job training and employment opportunities for homeless and low-income people within the context of an organic agriculture business.

SHED worked on the design and master plan of the new urban campus in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. The first phase was a 27,000 s.f. site of growing fields and hoop houses, a building to accommodate classrooms and administrative spaces, and community amenities including farm stands and CSA drop-offs. Reclaimed materials such as a floor made of bleacher seating, and an entry trellis and deck made of salvaged cedar round out the modern “barn” design. This site functions as the main hub for the future phases and related food entrepreneurial ventures. The second phase was a 40,000 s.f. site fully dedicated to production.

In future phases, funding will be sought to construct a “tower of power” to generate electricity (through solar photo-voltaics and wind turbines). A green roof and solar hot water heating system intended for the building will also be installed. Eventually, more satellite growing sites will be pursued as well.

SHED partnered with Designs for Dignity on this project.

New construction of 16,000 s.f. facility for BEDS Plus Care in Lagrange, IL furthers its mission to reduce homelessness in suburban Cook County by providing 20 supportive housing studio units, a support center, administrative offices, case management, wellness clinic and guest laundry. The design is both contextual to fit into the overall Lagrange commercial district as well as of a scale and material to respond in a friendly and positive way to the surrounding residential neighborhood. Extensive landscaping, carefully located windows and a flexible 1st floor plan provide a supportive environment for residents, clients, staff and the adjacent community. Project is built per Enterprise Green Communities certification, and uses an integrated design approach to support community health outcomes and resilience measures.

Design of the facility is a result of multiple levels of stakeholder input ranging from BEDS Plus staff, board and users to multiple rounds of feedback from the broader community of Lagrange, Plan Commission officials, Planning Department staff and the Village Board of Trustees. The co-location of the permanent supportive housing units with the supportive counseling and case management services capitalizes on successes of established best practices in the Continuum of Care, and address both the root cause and the challenges of the chronically homeless. The facility is proposed to work in conjunction with the existing emergency shelters already operated by BEDS, and will function as a flagship location for the other satellite functions.

Renovation of a two-level 10,000 s.f. of retail space into a facility with meditation rooms, cafe, library, bookstore and other support spaces. helped serve the expanding needs of the Shambhala community in Chicago, The design of the center is bright and airy to elevate the mind and spirit, and includes a variety of contemplative and congregational spaces to accommodate both the individual need for retreat and the community need for social interaction, discourse and action. The harmonious configuration of the components honors both what is material and what is open space.

The project involved a complex set of stake-holders including thoughtful leadership from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the global leader of the Shambhala community, architects and designers knowledgeable about the Shambhala principles and facility design, and a lengthy community input process from condominium neighbors and the surrounding residential and commercial property owners.

LEED & Energy Star Certified Core and Shell renovation of a 57,000 s.f. beautiful turn-of-the-century timber loft building in Chicago repositioned it for use as a showroom and offices. SHED Studio provided both architectural services, and LEED Consulting for this project. Sustainable features include maintaining a large portion of the existing building, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades, tenant control of systems, new insulated glazing windows, salvage and reuse of several elements within the building, extensive (95%) recycling of demolition waste and a new bike room and shower facility in the lower level of the building. Creative use of salvaged wood flooring, light fixtures, metal doors and existing brick is planned for the new, light filled lobby. New building rest rooms are accessible and include green finishes. Many of the design elements are found moments and artifacts from the buildings’ many industrial pasts, including its use as a former printing press.

SHED also worked on tenant upgrades and interior build-outs for tenants including a marketing firm. The tall ceilings, open feel, and plentiful natural light were complimented by the soothing finishes creating a calm, spa-like atmosphere. Informal meeting areas, floating ceilings, glass walls and sidelights allowed for a mix of spaces that supported the professional image of the firm, while also highlighting its creative energy.

A two-phase renovation of an existing building for The Englewood Business Accelerator to create a co-working space which also provides technical and business support for local entrepreneurs. The project is being developed by a partnership between Greater Englewood CDC and Blue 1647. The accelerator has a focus on food related businesses, especially those related to the new Whole Foods across the street.

The first phase launched on a small scale in an existing office environment with a very small budget. The design developed from a charette with community members and includes a combination of private spaces and communal working areas. The highlight of the central communal work area is a bright blue octagonal seating and storage module, which adds visual interest and program to the space. 20’ long tables create an open work environment. The second phase will expand into a larger building and include a tech support area, a business accelerator, and a subscription kitchen.

SHED partnered with Civic Projects LLC on this project.

SHED partnered with RODE architects for the new construction of 44 units of infill housing on 26 sites in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston. The project is part of a Department of Neighborhood Development Initiative and complies with DND Standards and Regulations. More than two-thirds of the units are affordable, while the remaining are market rate. The buildings are a mix of single-family, two-family and attached duplexes and are designed to reflect the materials and typology of the adjacent neighborhood. The buildings are Energy Star Certified and comply with MA Stretch Energy Code.

Y2Y Harvard Square, a student-run overnight program, employs a youth-to-youth model to provide a safe and affirming environment for young adults experiencing homelessness.

SHED collaborated with Studio G Architects to design the space which includes an overnight shelter with a sleeping area for 22 beds, bathrooms, storage and eating areas, as well as a daytime drop-in center for young homeless adults.

Studio G Architects and SHED Studio worked with the Y2Y team to facilitate several design workshops with the future young adult guests to capture their imagination about the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the space. Ideas generated included a vision for the new shelter to be homey in feel, respectful of the gender preferences of the guests, a safe haven that supported both community gatherings and individual retreat, and reflective of the creative energy of the participants in the various artistic and aesthetic elements. The final design includes an innovative layout and detail for the bunk-beds which emerged from the design workshops, ceiling clouds to create a sense of privacy in the midst of an open and high-ceiling space, non-gender specific bathrooms, showers and sleeping zones.

The design and construction teams worked together to maximize opportunities for volunteers and donated labor. Additionally, the design team worked with Designs for Dignity to support Y2Y in leveraging material donations and incorporating them into the design.

Rimland Services provides realistic and essential support to adults with autism that reflect their desired conditions of living related to emotional, physical and material well-being, personal development, social inclusion, individual rights and interpersonal relationships.

A gut-rehab and expansion of a single-story brick building for Rimland Services in Evanston, IL created a group home for adults living with profound autism. The challenge was to transform the existing small garage-like building into a sustaining and enabling environment for the clients and create a “community integrated living arrangement.” The final design almost doubled the footprint, and flipped the orientation so that the community living spaces such as the dining room and kitchen could be located towards the rear yard, and thus have the benefit of glazing and views. While locating the bedrooms and bathrooms in the existing masonry shell allowed for better use of existing window locations. The open footprint and asymmetric roof of the addition and the creative placement of skylights allowed for the community living area to be light-filled, inviting and spacious.

SHED worked closely with the interior designer Michael Talbot, providing support in prototyping standards to be used in all the organization’s facilities, including accessible bathrooms and kitchen, no-scald appliances, and finishes and furnishings.

The design also included a spacious backyard with a trellised portico for gatherings. Rimland Services and The Right Livelihood project subsequently transformed the yard into an organic edible garden with a grant from the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Kitchen Community.

Sprouts Academy Preschool provides children ages 2 to 6 years old an opportunity to learn how to engage in a healthy lifestyle and take a socially responsible stance in their environment through daily exposure to learning projects using the environment as a “Third Teacher”.

The space is designed as a physical expression of the mission, and introduces a sustainable lifestyle into the consciousness and development of children right from the beginning, both in learning and in play. Bright, light filled classrooms cluster around an informal plaza, which also serve as the first transition space for the child, allowing parents and children to informally congregate and interact around the flower shaped benches. A flex program room, used for large motor activities and display of children’s art projects flows naturally from the reception and entry areas.

Several green features, including natural and eco-friendly materials are incorporated throughout the space and opportunities are provided for children to touch and interact with the natural elements in the space. A mural at the entry wall displays the creative energies of all members of the Sprouts family over the course of the year. Front windows filled with plants and a small area for children to grow plants bring nature into the classrooms emphasizing the healthy eating curriculum. Salvaged glass panels at the classrooms bring natural light deep within the space.

HOW provides permanent supportive housing to the women, children and families in neighborhoods through a holistic approach to combating homelessness.

New construction of a 16-unit supportive housing building in Evanston, Illinois, required SHED and HOW to work with the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the City of Evanston to find a compelling, cost effective, sustainable, and useful design to impact the shortage of affordable and supportive housing in the region.  The structure uses traditional materials in novel ways to provide a complex mix of contextual yet refreshing details to make an exciting impact.  The interior layouts are compact and efficient with small interior innovations to provide flexibility for the tenants and promote a sense of community.

HOW was one of SHED’s first clients and we have done a number of projects together. An interior renovation of their 9,000 s.f. offices on Howard Street created space for administrative offices, counseling, community activities and meetings. A rehabilitation of an existing 3-story masonry building per IHDA standards to accommodate 25 affordable family units included extensive exterior work as well as selected interior work. A new accessible ground floor unit, rental office and laundry provided increased safety for the tenants.

New construction of a commercial aquaponics farm on a 33,000 sq.ft site in an industrial corridor on the west side of Chicago highlights the new emerging green economy in the city . The multi-phased plan includes a 10,000 s.f. large-scale aquaponics green house and a 9,000 s.f. open growing area. The greenhouse has six 800-gallon tanks where lettuce, kale and several herbs are grown, which support the cultivation of Rocky Mountain and American Blue tilapia. Fish waste fertilizes the plans, while the plants filter and oxygenate the water.

The high-production facility operates year-round, creating a lush oasis in the midst of a heavy industrial district

Interior build-out of a new office condo space helped CGLA relocate their offices to a new, central location. A collaborative process with the client yielded an understanding of their mission, the atmosphere and spirit that the new space should evoke, legacy of the organization and its place in the history, and its vision for the future.

The design creates a welcoming and transparent environment for the clients while also providing a sense of security and privacy. A “spa” like atmosphere emphasizes the restorative nature of CGLA’s work in the community. Translucent curved panels bring light deep into the space, and the open flow between offices allows for the CGLA community to interact and connect. Informal meeting areas, interior landscaping, floating ceiling elements and bright colors provide a vibrant “collegiate” backdrop for the activities of the staff and a sense professionalism and finish for clients, funders and supporters. Shades with messaging in the storefront windows create a strong street presence for the CGLA offices, and confidentiality for the clients. This balance of openness, signage and privacy allows for CGLA to interact with the community around it.

Salvaged and reused material donations from committed supporters, including furniture, wood panels, light fixtures, tile flooring, mill-work and plumbing fixtures are used through-out.

Adaptive reuse of an existing 93,000 s.f. former meatpacking facility, for Plant Chicago, a net-zero energy vertical farm and food business operation helped realize a mission to promote closed-loop food production and sustainable economic development through education and research.

One-third of The Plant is dedicated to aquaponic growing systems and the other two-thirds is an incubator for sustainable food businesses such as a brewery, a bakery, a Kombucha maker, an artisan cheese maker and a licensed shared kitchen. A renewable energy system is installed that will eventually divert over 10,000 tons of food waste from landfills each year to meet all the heat and power needs.

A combined heat and power system will capture methane from food waste processed by the anaerobic digestor, thus allowing the building to operate completely off the grid. The building is very energy efficient through the use of heavy insulation and improved efficiency of existing mechanical systems. Most of the construction was performed using volunteer labor and recycled and locally manufactured materials.

Addition and interior build-out of an existing building for C4 to expand its range of mental health, substance use and family counseling services in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. The project included a renovation of the existing 1st and 2nd floors, connection to adjacent C4 building, expansion of the 2nd floor to include additional space and a roof deck, and adaptation of the basement for storage and mechanical purposes. Structure was added to accommodate future expansion for the remainder of the 2nd floor and a possible 3rd floor. The design creates a welcoming and trans-parent environment for the clients while also providing a comfortable and rejuvenating work environment for the counselors. Careful selection of colors and finishes emphasizes the restorative nature of the space. Informal meeting areas, roof deck landscaping and bright colors provide a vibrant backdrop for the activities of the staff.  Messaging screens with art from C4’s art therapy program in the storefront windows unite the facades of the two buildings and create a strong street presence while preserving confidentiality for the clients. A collaborative process with the staff yielded an understanding of the innovations in the service delivery model that was being developed by C4 and a setting of a baseline standard for its future facilities.

SHED partnered with Designs for Dignity (D4D) on this project.

Two multi-unit supportive housing projects in Chicago under the federally funded Neighorhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) addressed the need for affordable options in the south and west sides of Chicago. The funding and project management teams for both projects comprised of IFF, Mercy Portfolio Services and CIC.

An 8-unit rehab Permanent Supportive Housing project in Washington Park, Chicago for Inspiration Corporation is designed to enhance accessibility and provide family housing with property management office and storage on the lower level. Accessibility upgrades also include a ramp from the parking lot. Design features such as a BBQ area in the rear yard and community-built garden boxes help continue Inspiration Corporation’s mission to build community, self-sufficiency and economic stability through food growing and production.

A 12-unit rehab Permanent Supportive Housing project in Humboldt Park, Chicago for the Primo Center for Women and Children is designed to create accessible units, family housing, and diverse and flexible spaces for families with children. A new layout for the units provides an open living/dining/eat-in kitchen space and creates a sense of spaciousness in the existing small sized units. The addition of a LULA elevator and a rework of the bathroom and kitchen layouts allows the units on the first floor and the lower level community room, children’s room, and counseling & property management offices to be accessible. The rear yard and parking lot are redesigned for accessibility and accommodate a secure outdoor playground, a native plant butterfly garden and an outdoor mural designed through art workshops with Primo’s families and children.

Family Promise Metrowest in Natick, MA addresses family homelessness by providing transitional housing, night time shelter in partnership with local congregations, and supportive services at a Day Center. An interior renovation of a newly purchased building by FPMW allowed for the relocation of the Day Center, administrative offices and program components into a former sheet metal plant. The Day Center serves as home base and mailing address for families while in shelter. This where families store their belongings, take showers, wash clothes, and commute to and from school, day care, and work. It is also where they meet with professional staff who empower families by assisting them in establishing individual goals in areas of health and safety, finances, parenting, and transportation.

Main design components include a family living area, kitchen and eating area, quiet spaces for individual work and restoration, private bathing and storage areas, large and small meeting/multi-purpose areas, and a new private entrance for families that respects the residential feel of the building. The design team worked to create a home like feel for the Day Center, while at the same time ensuring durability and long-term maintenance of the materials selected.

Gut rehab of a 4-unit greystone in North Lawndale, Chicago for Edge Alliance, a non-profit organization which assists its members in developing and operating quality housing and providing life enriching services to vulnerable individuals, families and veterans. The Shawn Feely Alpha house dedicated to homeless veterans, serving a total of 11 people, and provides a safe place for them to regain their footing as they transition from homelessness to independence.

The design team comprised of Designs for Dignity and SHED Studio, with a two-fold strategy to upgrade the structure to comply with current codes as well as to bring to life the existing shell of the building which had deteriorated over the years. Drawing from both Designs for Dignity’s warehouse of donated commercial furniture as well as from Edge Alliance’s donor pool, the designers created 4 units with distinct identities and color palettes. New flooring, a new entry door, new kitchens and bathrooms, and a new porch complement the furniture and fixtures selected for the space.

Proposal for the 50x50 Chicago Architectural Foundation invitational exhibit.  Inhabitable architectural objects grafted onto existing infrastructure engage with Chicagoans in transit and offer respite, connectivity and productivity. The objects thread through the neighborhood like living graffiti, offering respite to read a book, take a phone call, do some work or gather with a group. The objects would have more than one function, with productive use in all seasons, and will graft onto light poles, Divvy stations and other infrastructure. This also allows for the opportunity for public/private partnerships to provide electricity, wi-fi , water etc. to serve the public free of charge.

The objects would be modular with an easily recognizable “branded element” and include a wi-fi /power station with a seating element. They would also be scalable and expandable allowing for modification into different kinds of inhabitable/usable spaces depending on the season or function being served. These could include planter benches, kiosks, shelter, or parklets for large scale gathering.

Deborah’s Place is a multi-faceted organization that assists women who have experienced homelessness, domestic abuse and substance abuse.  

Redesign of the first floor 15-bed sleeping quarters at A Safe Haven, dedicated to serving women who face the most challenging barriers to housing helped accommodate changing needs of the residents. The final design responded to the challenge of maintaining the openness, flexibility and code compliance of the existing layout, while enhancing the privacy of the residents and providing components for storage and personalization.

The Safe Haven houses offer a foothold for those with a severe mental illness and/or who have been chronically homeless, Women are free to come and go for an indefinite amount of time, compete with access to meals, health services, learning center access, art therapy, computer access, and more. Women build trusting relationships with each other and staff, thus seeing the Safe Haven as a resource to “achieve the goals they self-identify”.

Concept for an integrated site development at a vacant site in Rogers Park for a mixed use development. SHED used a participatory design process to generate ideas about the new design for the site and different programmatic elements. The proposed design would include a 32-unit affordable housing residential building and 24,000 s.f. urban farm. The building would accommodate community support spaces including a job training center, fitness center and farm offices. The farm would include hydroponic greenhouses, hoophouses, outdoor growing areas, and community resources including tool sharing, allotment plots, outdoor patio and farmstand. Sustainable features would be embedded in the design.

SHED has worked on a number of food enterprises such as the PB+J Bakery, Whiner Brewery, Two-Tree Brewery, Greens & Gills, and Arize Kombucha in The Plant building in Chicago.

The PB+ J bakery produced artisan breads in a brick oven which was custom built for the location.  A mill room, efficient dry and cold storage, and a compact work area allowed for maximum use of natural light to create a bright and heart-warming bakery.  This space is now operated by Pleasant House.

The 10,000 square foot Whiner Brewery has a 30-barrel, three-vessel brewhouse, two 60-barrel fermentation tanks. and two 15-barrel vessels used for fermentation, blending, and yeast propagation processes. The industrial space with its concrete floors, floor-ceiling height, LED X-lights and large windows are a perfect contrast to the stainless-steel brew tanks, but also to the oak barrels which add a special aged taste to the blend.  A tap room on the first floor adjacent to the brewhouse is a friendly face to newcomers and old.

(Thank you to Whiner Brewery for use of their photos!)

Rehabilitation of four structures for the Chicago Housing Authority scattered site affordable rental housing program. The buildings range from single family to 3-flats, on the north and south sides of Chicago to create a diversity of housing types and offer clients rental support, case management services, employment support, and/or other support services. Building upgrades meet CHA and HUD standards for Section 8 housing on both the interior and exterior. Work includes a set of interior finishes and fixtures to be used at other CHA locations, removing non-code compliant and unsafe components such as porches, stairs, railings and canopies, designing ways to replace them with more durable alternatives, renovation of interior rooms and millwork, and infrastructure/mechanical system upgrades. Exterior work includes sidewalk replacement, landscaping, fencing, paving, and improving the exterior appearance of the buildings.

Site analysis and design proposal for a new facility for BPNC in McKinley Park Chicago to accommodate expanded services for youth educational and cultural programs, domestic violence and other counseling services and administrative support. The facility was planned to accommodate BPNC’s growing needs, and provide a community space for youth leadership development, violence prevention and intervention, counseling resources and other community enriching programs.

The facility would house large multi-purpose, multi-program areas, computer training room, library resource center, classrooms, meeting rooms, gallery, counseling offices, administrative offices and multi-use outdoor space. The new center would have exciting potential to accommodate a vibrant and diverse menu of programs designed by and for the community. This space would be designed with green technologies and principles to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint.

SHED partnered with RODE Architects to rehab an existing 6-unit, 100% affordable rental housing building in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood in Boston. The project complied with Department of Neighborhood Development standards. The property was in significant disrepair, which required a gut-rehab with special care to preserve and maintain the traditional feel of the building while upgrading to include insulation in exterior walls, new siding and roof, new porches and decks, sprinklers, and fire rating. The property is managed by Urban Edge.

SHED worked with the Blaine School Garden Committee to design and build a garden to improve the flow of students, create outdoor classroom and gardening spaces, and provide the community a space to gather and recreate when the school was not in operation. The design was inspired by a polka-dot theme that the students had developed for branding and interior design.

A semi-circle walkway redirects foot traffic and relieves congestion during after school pick-up. The brick paved area on the northern side would provide seating such as picnic tables, wooden benches and flat rocks. Edible plant beds include benches for sitting thus allowing for simultaneous use of the garden by two classes. Birdhouses and a mosaic seating wall compliment the colors selected by the students for the interior design. The garden was constructed by students and teachers. SHED built the edible planter benches.

The Stein Learning Garden at St. Sabina is committed to delivering high quality garden education and community programs that create positive learning experiences, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and increase community members’ access to fresh and affordable healthy produce.

A multi-phased project that aims to provide healthy community opportunities for growing, learning, and comradery is planned for two sites. The first (current) phase is at the church and boys’ high school. The garden is a simple open plan with raised beds for use by all and a greenhouse incubator that allows for activities all year long and provide space for curriculum activities as well as set the stage for workforce development programs.  The front portion of the site is dedicated to the growing beds and welcoming bench circle, where all garden attendees gather for prayer and discussion.  Special attention to ADA needs, and working with local artists has been paid to keep the garden welcoming to all.  It is a vibrant hub of activity and learning, all while producing healthy foods.   Two donated steel containers at the rear of the site are used to frame a trellised work area that can function as both classroom and work-place, with the custom modified containers providing storage, workshop and “office” amenities.  The second phase at a site across the street will be a more production-oriented garden along with a small office coordination zone.

(Thank you St. Sabina Stein Garden for use of your photos!)

Rehabilitation of a 110-unit senior housing building in Indianapolis, owned and operated by Urban Innovations. The project received HUD certification. The building has a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom units, and is suited for independent living. Units are set up to have fully private living facilities including porches and individually controlled HVAC systems, which are supplemented by community amenities such as a shared dining room, shared laundry, library and common areas, which give residents a variety of choices of living conditions.

Renovations to the units, common areas, dining room, accessibility modifications and exterior porches highlighted the new owner-ship and upgraded the building infrastructure. HUD compliant accessibility upgrades include reworking the layouts of the accessible units and ensuring that pathways to common areas and outdoor gathering spaces such as a gazebo were accessible. Available funds are creatively deployed to surgically address interior and exterior areas requiring the most attention, while confirming that the remainder of the building is in reasonable shape to be served by ongoing maintenance. Design work also includes selection of finishes to suit a culturally mixed population of different ethnicities.

The challenge of working with an occupied building reaped rewards and a satisfied clientele.

SHED partnered with Rimland Services to develop an integrated model for the long-term housing of individuals with autism and offer multiple living options to accommodate residents requiring different levels of support. Just as the term “spectrum” acknowledges the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment or disability that adults with autism can have, our model offers a spectrum of choices to reflect different needs and capacities.

The spectrum of choices in our model include: Group Home for residents needing 24/7 support, Tiny Home individual living option situated on a Group Home site for a resident needing limited daily support, and Tiny Home Village that assembles multiple Tiny Homes linked to a center of support services.

The model re-envisions the layout and features of the group home to reflect individualization, customization, and the need for retreat (in addition to sameness/consistency & integration). In addition, the concept leverages the existing resources and economy of the group home model to support individualized, independent living situations (the Tiny Home) that are cost efficient. The extended, hybrid model is scalable to create a “Tiny Home Village” of two to ten tiny homes connected to, and drawing upon, the resources and services of the group home and support center.

Several of the standards for living were developed in partnership with Michael Talbot, The Right Livelihood Project.

SHED’s design proposal for the NYC infill housing competition is the LIGHTBOX, a lively new entry into the historical Bronx neighborhood. Inspired by the charm and character of the brownstones and stucco buildings, the LIGHTBOX borrows from the materials and colors that surround it, rearranging them in a new vibrant symphony of color and texture. Light and shadow play on the façade creating rhythm and depth, while having a lively conversation with the historical buildings and the cultural entrepreneurs of the neighborhood. The building attaches itself to its neighbor with a DARK Wall carrying the core and utility functions. LIGHT BOX has a vertical atrium, which brings light into the interior, creating a bright and airy interior. The LIGHT BOX is simultaneously the literal and symbolic center of the house, opening up to the activities within. The atrium is a key element that circulates light and air, which creates much needed spaciousness for the very narrow lots. At the corner lots, the LIGHT BOX projects out, connecting to activity on the street.

The building is designed with ICF technology, electric heat pumps, green roofs and other sustainable features.