Higher Ground St. Paul & Dorothy Day Place

Design for Dignity

This two-building campus at the gateway to downtown Saint Paul includes dignified shelter for 356 single adults, 360 permanent supportive housing units for men and women, and a range of day services that can prevent homelessness and lead to a pathway out of poverty. It’s a bold and ambitious vision to transform what was once a system of perpetual crisis management into a model that leads to secure, independent living.

In addition to providing essential services to residents and clients, the Dorothy Day campus transformed two bleak sites into a welcoming space, with high-quality materials and well-landscaped edges and courtyards. The buildings were designed to meet the Minnesota B3 sustainable design standards for a significant reduction in energy use and environmental impact.

This 280,779 GSF project was recognized with the 2020 AIA Minnesota/McKnight Foundation Affordable Housing Design Award.