Homeless shelters and settlements are often hidden out of sight. Palm Springs Homeless Navigation Center, a 3-acre campus, is the opposite: extroverted, welcoming, and abutting a residential neighborhood.

worked with the city, community, and operator Martha’s Village to address the range of needs of unhoused people and put them on track for long-term stability, transforming two existing warehouses into a 50-bed shelter and a case-management facility providing meals, laundry, and job training. New modular buildings contain 80 transitional residential units, all with bright graphics and views of gardens or nearby mountains. Second-floor walkways form bridges over first-floor units and shade paths below, making the prefabricated structures feel dynamic, while a wide central promenade creates visibility and a sense of place. Joyful and easy to navigate, the project connects people to the California desert landscape and each other, promoting their health and dignity.

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ALICE KIMM; JOHN FRIEDMAN; LAUREN RATH; LISA RAMSBURG; JUDY KIM; GORDON AU; LUNG CHI CHANG; ANDREW LAU; DEREK GREENE.