Covenant House New York

Our design of Covenant House New York's new purpose-built facility supports the not-for-profit's mission of providing homeless youth with shelter and opportunities to work toward stable and successful lives. In 2013, we reviewed a series of development scenarios for the organization, ultimately recommending that they remain on their underbuilt site, but in a new, consolidated facility that would meet their current and future needs. The remainder of the site will be sold for market-rate residential development.

The new building balances the dualities at the core of Covenant House's mission: to be open and welcoming yet safe and secure; to celebrate community and never forget the individual; to stand out yet blend in; and to serve a specific purpose yet be flexible enough to allow for change. The building shell is expressed with strong materials of brick, metal, and glass, while inside, elements of wood and fabric create warmth and comfort. The design creates a place where youth feel at ease, and the building is at home in its rapidly changing West Side context.