St. Francis House
Location
Boston, MA
Client
St. Francis House
Services
Sectors
Academic | Health + Community Centers, Moderate Rehabilitation
Square Footage
30,000 GSF
Located in downtown Boston, St. Francis House is the largest day shelter in New England.
The shelter provides social services, a clinic, meals, showers, clothing, mail, and other services like art therapy and recovery support, all under one roof.
The 11-story building on Boylston Street houses the approximately 30,000 gsf day shelter located on the ground floor through the third floor, with St. Francis House administrative offices on floors four through six, followed by the non-profit’s single-room occupancy residences on the upper floors.
The day shelter’s design creates a trauma-informed environment that works to reduce stress for individuals experiencing homelessness while modernizing the late-1800s building. Grounded in TAT’s close observance of daily operations and informed by the shelter’s expertise, the design prioritizes comfort, safety, dignity, and ease of navigation, with a clear vertical organization that helps guests intuitively access services throughout the building. Soft, welcoming interiors, thoughtfully arranged spaces, and discreet safety features minimize anxiety, while improvements such as redistributing overcrowded waiting areas and relocating the kitchen and dining space encourage guests to stay, connect, and engage with support.
The renovation successfully introduced new and upgraded spaces—including a welcoming lobby, expanded dining and lounge areas, program rooms, and clinical services operated in partnership with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program—alongside major infrastructure improvements like HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, electrical systems, and an accessible elevator, resulting in a more functional and supportive environment that makes a tangible difference in the daily experiences and outcomes of both guests and staff.
Throughout the phased construction, St. Francis House continued to open its doors to up to 500 people every day. The project team designed and implemented a temporary workspace for the case management center, art therapy room, and food services with a 150-seat dining area and serving line at another Saint Francis House property, The Union, just across the street.
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