A critical mass of thoughtfully designed, well-built buildings can turn the decades-old stereotype about supportive housing on its head, showing that this housing can be a boon, by bringing, talented and dedicated practitioners, beautiful architecture and enriching services to a neighborhood.

 Learn how this is being demonstrated in the working partnership of Transitional Services for New York (TSINY) and Amie Gross Architects (AGA). TSINY, a leading regional not for profit developer based in New York City provides supportive housing and a range of services to individuals with a psychiatric disability; at many levels of residential typologies. This reflects the TSINY commitment to maximize the number of supportive units in New York State and meet the challenge of increasing scale and effectively operating facilities that provide safe and welcoming environments to both tenants and staff, prioritizing the values of the CSH Race Equity Framework.

 Part of the strength of TSINY is that they fully finance, own, and operate their facilities, which creates an ongoing stream of resources to allow for the construction of new buildings. TSINY has worked with AGA for decades as the Architect whose work extends from the analysis of potential sites to the design of their buildings and then to oversight of construction. This partnership includes over six new buildings, both constructed and in-development, providing hundreds of new permanent housing units with more in the planning stages.

 This panel will focus on how the mission of TSINY is given physical form by the environment designed by AGA and how those spaces along with rigorous programming provide the catalyst for healing to those they serve. The panel, comprised of Dr. Larry Grubler, CEO of TSINY; Shatima McNair, Program Director; and Amie Gross AIA, President of Amie Gross Architects, will discuss and show visuals of the latest new TSINY 70-unit building The Mieles, as well as other TSINY developments. CSH bridge loan funds were crucial to the development of the supportive housing.

Detailed commentary from Dr. Grubler and Ms. McNair about the treatment models used at The Mieles will be accompanied by photos and videos of the building showing the interaction with tenants and staff including a range of gathering areas and gardens. Uniquely, the three gardens at The Mieles are a key treatment modality in that their varied levels of privacy, light, and size allow for many activities including therapy sessions, as well as community building activities, such as barbecues with families.

 AGA sees it as their responsibility to TSINY to enhance the connection between people, building the social bonds that result in community. The team at AGA are activists who believe that the collaborative practice of architecture is a public service. Architecture that has strength can become an icon to a neighborhood, knitting together the breadth of those who live and work within the area it serves.

Audience participation, including the sharing of challenging and successful experiences, and engaging responses to questions, will foster the audience toward a distinctive educational and spirited experience.