The County of Sacramento is advancing a prototype community in North Highlands that transforms a former big box retail site into temporary housing, shelter, and support services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Challenge
Transforming a former retail site into a comprehensive support community required balancing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and social services within a single environment. The design needed to accommodate diverse guest needs while maximizing the functionality and value of the existing site and buildings.
Solution
As Architect of Record, we aligned design with purpose to maximize space utilization and functionality. The existing large-format building is being repurposed to provide amenities, community rooms, training and development areas, mental health and case management services, catering facilities, a respite centre, and emergency weather response space. The site also includes modular tiny-home shelter neighborhoods for 225 guests and a secure outdoor area accommodating up to 50 parking guests.
Outcome
The Watt Avenue Safe Stay and Service Center will offer compassion and dignity to its guests with measurable social impact. The collaborative design services from NORR, in combination with the outcomes-focused public services of the County of Sacramento will help individuals and families experiencing homelessness to regain health, income and permanent housing stability.
As Sacramento County’s third and largest Safe Stay community, the modular “shelter neighborhoods” will provide transitional housing for up to 225 guests, creating a community-focused alternative to encampments.
