Department of Homeless Services, Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH)

0505 Path Hero2

Department of Homeless Services, Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH)

The expansive, welcoming and light-filled intake center for the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) gives physical form to the City’s progressive and innovative approach to overcoming homelessness: prevention, client service, permanence and accountability.

0505 Path Context

We created an accessible, secure, dignified and private environment that responds inventively to the city’s progressive and innovative approach to tackling homelessness.

Todd Schliemann, Design Partner
0505 Path Hero1

The design for this safe haven promotes physical and psychological comfort by choreographing a spatial sequence that supports a non-threatening, orderly and dignified evaluation and assistance process. Throughout the building, large, west-facing spaces with abundant natural light provide open administrative work areas for staff, client waiting areas and client interview rooms.

0505 Path Rail
0505 Path Context2

The building is located in an urbanistically and architecturally diverse area of the Bronx. Formally and texturally, the consistent use of materials relates to the building’s two distinct contexts and characterizes the skin of the building: terra cotta references the brick of residential buildings; zinc and metal trim tracery evoke an industrial aesthetic consistent with the nearby manufacturing district; and glass reinforces the goals of visibility and transparency.

0505 Path Entry
0505 Path Facade
0505 Path Detail2
0505 Path Hero3
0505 Path Interior7
0505 Path Interior1

The building’s program is organized into two distinct parts. The first floor and concourse are the more public and active, accommodating intake and screening in a series of open and spacious rooms that are both physically and visually accessible. Other functions on the lower floors include a medical suite, security, personal item storage, a variety of social services and mechanical spaces. 

0505 Path Interior4
0505 Path Interior2
0505 Path Interior3

Open administrative work areas for staff, client waiting areas, and client meeting/interview rooms occupy a series of large, loft-like, daylit spaces on the upper floors.

Details

Year
2011
Location
Bronx, NY
Size
76,820 GSF
Program
Administrative Offices, Medical Suites, Security Offices, Food Service, Waiting/Reception Areas
LEED Gold

Team

Design Partner
Todd Schliemann
Management Partner
Timothy Hartung
Project Designer
Jack Phillips
Project Manager
V. Guy Maxwell
Project Architect
Steven Chang
Interiors
Charmian Place
Design Team
Gary Anderson, Carlyle Fraser, Anthony Guaraldo, Zubair Kazi, Ryan Meeks, Todd Van Varick

Awards

  • 2012
    • Award of Merit, Society of American Registered Architects/New York Council
    • Construction Management Association of America Project of the Year Award
  • 2007
    • Award for Excellence in Design, The Art Commission of the City of New York

Press

  • 2019
  • 2011
    • Brake, Alan G. "Doing Right for the Needy" (The Architect's Newspaper, 6/22/2011)
    • Brooks, Stan. "New Building Will Give People Hope" (1010 Wins News WINS 1010 AM Radio New York, 5/11/2011)
    • Einhorn, Erin. "New $65M Homeless Family Intake Center Unveiled in Bronx to Rave Reviews from Mayor" (New York Daily News, 5/12/2011)
    • Giron, Will. "Ennead Architects Designs New Green Intake Center for NYC Department of Homeless Services" (Inhabitat.com, 5/23/2011)
    • Herzenberg, Michael. "New Bronx Homeless Shelter Puts Focus on Families" (NY1, 5/11/2011)
    • Keith, Kelsey. "Uber-Homeless Shelter in Bronx is Poster Child for City’s Design Excellence Program" (Curbed, 7/29/2011)
    • Rodriguez, Cindy. "New Intake Center for Homeless Opens in the Bronx" (WNYC News, 5/11/2011)
    • Russell, James S. "From Infamous Bronx Horror to $66 Million Humane Beacon of Hope" (Bloomberg, 7/29/2011)
    • Saul, Michael Howard. "New Homeless Intake Center is Set to Open" (Wall Street Journal, 5/1/2011)
  • 2007
    • Pogrebin, Robin. "An Architect Who Can Delight the Eye (if Not the Nose)" (The New York Times, 7/17/2007)

Consultants

Photography
Jeff Goldberg/Esto, Aislinn Weidele/Ennead Architects