Recognition

2022 Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award - Honorable Mention

2023 RED Awards - Winner, Philanthropy/Charity

2023 ASID Illinois Awards - Winner, Philanthropy/Charity

AIA Chicago

In the news

Harbour House, suburban homeless shelter for teens once in danger of closing, opens new chapter

Article in CBS News

“‘To make it to this point and see all the people who are arriving to help set it up, it's an incredible feeling,’ said executive director Melody Rose.”

The Harbour

Des Plaines, Illinois

Based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, The Harbour is a non-profit that provides emergency shelter and services to local women facing homelessness as a product of abusive domestic conditions. The goal is to provide temporary shelter in a space that promotes safety, stability, and personal growth.

Due to the deteriorating conditions of their existing house, the Harbour hired OKW to design a new center for their operations. OKW took into account their employees and the recipients of the Harbour’s services when envisioning a new center, which focused primarily on security, privacy, comfort, and ease of use.

The new one-story house is adjacent to the existing structure, whose site will later be the home of microapartments to be used for long-term stay and helping women build credit. To address security and safety, the new house is removed from the main road and its windows are strategically designed to bring in natural light while discouraging curiosity from onlookers.

With the new house, the Harbour has improved the essential programs and services that they offer: empowering women escaping abusive conditions by giving them the necessary tools and resources to make positive decisions.

Photography by Marcel Page