( New York, NY October 29, 2007) —A collaborative design project benefiting New York City’s homeless women and children was announced today by Larry Osborn of Pei Partnership Architects and Women In Need Inc. (WIN) a non-profit organization which provides family shelter, supportive permanent housing and two out-patient substance abuse clinics in New York City.
Mr. Osborn has enlisted a group of design and construction industry professionals both inside and outside his firm who will collaborate on a redesign of Women In Need’s Women’s Substance Abuse and Wellness Center in midtown Manhattan. “This project is an ideal opportunity for New York City’s design and construction industries to give back to the community,” remarks Mr. Osborn.
Marilyn Laves, WIN’s Assistant Vice President, Substance Abuse and Prevention Services adds, “We are very pleased to have the support of this talented group of individuals to assist us in redesigning and renovating our space. These steps will make a big difference in the lives of our clients.”
Designers from Pei Partnership Architects, Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects, Perkins Eastman, Polshek Partnership, Santiago Calatrava/Festina Lente LLP, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn and Studio JTA are working together as part of ‘Design for New York City’s Homeless Women and Children’, a new initiative planned to engage the talents and resources of New York City’s Design and Construction Industry in improving the lives of New York City’s homeless and disadvantaged women and children as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers who serve them. Turner Construction Company is also supporting the program. Improvements will take place on November 3 and 10.
Currently, there are over 35,000 homeless individuals in the New York City shelter system, including over 72% women and children. Lack of affordable housing, domestic violence, limited job skills, shortage of entry-level employment, and rising prices of gas, electricity and household goods are just some of the obstacles that stand in the way of hopes and aspirations of many New Yorkers.
WIN’s seven shelters in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn house more than 2,500 people every night – more than 1,500 of them are children. Their dedicated team of housing and employment specialists, teachers, child care workers, counselors, and medical professionals will offer shelter, address core needs and provide dignity and hope to more than 8,000 women and children this year.
Amy Dimun, the Clinical Director of Women In Need’s Women’s Substance Abuse and Wellness Center in midtown, explained that the Center is part of a quality improvement initiative where one area of focus is “making the Center a welcoming place for our clients. For many of our women, the Center is the most comfortable place they have to go.”
Services conducted at Women In Need’s Women’s Substance Abuse and Wellness Center in midtown Manhattan include counseling and referrals for eviction prevention, domestic violence prevention, alcohol and substance abuse treatment; HIV/AIDS prevention and education; childcare; and aftercare and alumni programs.
The project will include providing pro-bono design and construction services to increase the number of group and individual counseling rooms, ‘brighten’ tired interior finishes and furnishings, and other needed improvements. Donations of materials and labor for paint, carpet, graphics, lighting, minor ceiling and drywall modifications and repairs are needed. To date, the new initiative has received contribution offers from Steelcase, Knoll, Nemo Tile, PatCraft, LucePlan, Johnsonite/Tarket, Interface Flor, Wilsonart, Virtuan, Precision Signs, ProSpec, Ceiling Solutions, Bentley Prince Street,Wolf Gordon, AFD, Designweave, Fixtures Furniture, Harter, Mayaromanoff, Time Shell Rivers, Mecho Shades, Rulon, Halo, Abet Laminati, Corian, Acuity Brands Lighting, and Trespa.
Financial contributions to support the project and/or other programs at WIN are also welcomed. Volunteers and donations are needed for planning, design, and assistance in performing the needed improvements. Financial contributions also would be appreciated and are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Please contact Larry Osborn, AIA, at Pei Partnership Architects at osborn@ppa-ny.com 212-674-9000 (office) or 347-880-2019 (cell) to volunteer and/or make donations.
