A 3,000-square-foot mural by artist Guido van Helten overlooks benched seating leading down to basement and bridge leading to the entrance of PorchLight Eastgate shelter in Bellevue, Washington WA, designed by Joshua P. LaFreniere, JPL-A, Block Architects, Jennifer LaFreniere, and Rex Hohlbein.

They Didn’t Just Want to Build a Housing Shelter. They Wanted to Shift Public Perception

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To push the boundaries of a typical homeless shelter, Block Architects prioritized natural light and exterior spaces, asking themselves, "What’s important for most buildings?" says the firm’s Jennifer LaFreniere. PorchLight’s services, which range from case management to housing navigation, are designed to move men into a more permanent home in 90 days.