The new Covenant House New York, a crisis shelter for homeless youth in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, provides a temporary home and multiple services for young people. The 80,000 sf structure includes 60 residential units and numerous amenities.
Designed by FXCollaborative, the structure offers a safe and respectful place to live, access to legal, physical, and mental health services, along with educational and spiritual support. The 12-story building is humanely scaled to contrast with the glass towers surrounding the site. Opaqueness and transparency are balanced, with more visual connections to the city within common spaces and more sheltered spaces in private areas. The building shell is composed of strong materials—brick, metal, and glass—while inside, elements of wood and fabric create warmth and comfort.
Services and administration are housed in the lower five floors, with residential rooms on the upper six floors. About 54,400 sf is above grade and 26,100 sf below grade. The main lobby welcomes people into the building, providing a singular identity and a central security point. A welcome center, a wellness center, and the CovCafé are located on the first floor. The café opens to a landscaped courtyard.
At the top of a gracious stair, Pride Hall, bathed in natural light extends out to a large, landscaped terrace with a variety of seating types and groupings. An art room and hope room are provided for youth expression and contemplation.
A gymnasium and small workout room occupies the lowest level of the building, along with a music room that includes a digital music production area. The building also includes dedicated classrooms, a computer room, and space for staff to support the employment and educational portions of the Covenant House’s mission. The fourth floor include spaces for behavioral health services.
Ten rooms on each residential floor offer a manageable neighborhood experience. With most rooms accommodating two people, the rooms can be configured for three or four if demand increases. A living room with a kitchenette is provided on each residential floor.
Throughout the building, individual bathroom and bathing facilities accommodate the gender identity of all who may come. This detail embodies the core values of Covenant House.
Owner: Covenant House International
Developer: Gotham Organization
Design architect: FXCollaborative
Architect of record: FXCollaborative
MEP engineer: Cosentini Associates
Structural engineer: DeSimone Consulting Engineers
General contractor/construction manager: Monadnock Construction
Related Stories
Building Team | Jan 3, 2017
How does your firm’s hit rate stack up to the AEC competition?
If your firm is not converting at least a third of project proposals when competing for new work, it may be time to reassess your marketing tactics and processes.
Contractors | Dec 22, 2016
New commercial building energy code released
The update includes a new compliance path and significant technical changes affecting building envelope, and mechanical and lighting systems.
Contractors | Oct 13, 2016
Contractors’ financial performance improved in 2015
The Construction Financial Management Association’s latest survey found gains across the board, but notable variances by the size of the companies.
| Sep 26, 2016
RELIGIOUS FACILITY GIANTS: A ranking of the nation’s top religious sector design and construction firms
Gensler, Leo A Daly, Brasfield & Gorrie, Layton Construction, and AECOM top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest religious facility AEC firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Sep 16, 2016
U.S. construction companies not embracing technology: KPMG survey
U.S. construction companies are not embracing technological advancements, such as drone aircrafts, robotics, RFID equipment and materials tracking, and data analytics, according to KPMG International’s Global Construction Survey 2016, “Building a technology advantage.
Architects | Sep 15, 2016
Implicit bias: How the unconscious mind drives business decisions
Companies are tapping into the latest research in psychology and sociology to advance their diversity and inclusion efforts when it comes to hiring, promoting, compensation, and high-performance teaming, writes BD+C's David Barista.
AEC Tech | Sep 6, 2016
Innovation intervention: How AEC firms are driving growth through R&D programs
AEC firms are taking a page from the tech industry, by infusing a deep commitment to innovation and disruption into their cultural DNA.
Sponsored | Contractors | Sep 5, 2016
Rental vs. purchase: How to minimize job site costs
Smart business decisions can mean the difference between being ‘on budget’ and going ‘way over’ budget.
| Sep 1, 2016
TRANSIT GIANTS: A ranking of the nation's top transit sector design and construction firms
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Perkins+Will, Skanska USA, Webcor Builders, Jacobs, and STV top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest transit sector AEC firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Sep 1, 2016
INDUSTRIAL GIANTS: A ranking of the nation's top industrial design and construction firms
Stantec, BRPH, Fluor Corp., Walbridge, Jacobs, and AECOM top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest industrial sector AEC firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.