Arizona State University architecture students presented their designs for a new housing community for people experiencing homelessness on May 1. The project, developed throughout the school year, aims to integrate nature, healing, and community into transitional and low-income housing in Sierra Vista.
The initiative matters because it addresses not only the need for shelter but also seeks to provide a supportive environment that promotes recovery and wellness. Students worked closely with local officials, people who have experienced homelessness, and organizations such as Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona to create practical yet thoughtful designs.
Sean Maseng, a graduate student presenter, said: “Our project and our manifesto is rooted in three things — recovery, community and harmony.” He explained that their group’s design features two community centers and colorful units arranged along parallel avenues to encourage both privacy and spontaneous interaction. “We believe avenues create small, spontaneous little actions of community while still maintaining a shared sense of privacy,” Maseng said.
The courses were conducted in partnership with Massive Change Network—a Chicago-based design agency co-founded by Bruce Mau and Aiyemobisi Williams—alongside faculty from ASU’s Herberger Institute. After attending the Arizona Housing Forum in Tucson last summer, Williams connected with Terrance Watkins from Catholic Community Services about developing plans for land set aside for this purpose. Williams recounted asking people who had experienced homelessness what would make life beautiful beyond basic needs: “And we heard, ‘A library, an art room, a music room, gardens…’ There was a little boy… he said ‘A playground.’”
Renee Cheng, dean of the Herberger Institute at ASU and an architect herself, noted that many students involved had personal experience with housing insecurity. “When we are designing for people that have experienced housing insecurity… be willing to think about these other points of view that are represented,” Cheng said during the final presentation event.
Watkins praised the quality of work produced by students: “This is 10 times above what it was in December. You guys have done an amazing job.” He shared his own background with homelessness as context for why such projects matter deeply: “Being homeless was one of the most pivotal… worst moments of my life. But it was so bad that it actually spurred change.”
Students reflected on how working on this real-life project shaped their academic journey. Sneha Dhileep said she felt grateful “for having a real-life project experience in school.” Taylor Gentry added: “This studio has helped me fall back in love with architecture and realize why I started.”
Arizona State University has been recognized as number one in innovation by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years; its programs rank highly across several disciplines including business and engineering according to Arizona State University.
