The Lark-Inn

On any given night in the Bay Area, 38,000 individuals are without a place to call home, which is an increase of 35 percent since 2019. Of that number, 1,100 are young people who face homelessness and the impacts of racism, homophobia, and transphobia. The nonprofit organization Larkin Street Youth Services provides a refuge for the city’s youth and offers support and resources to set their lives on a new path forward. AEC Cares partnered with four design firms to donate their time and resources to renovate one of Larkin Street Youth Services’ emergency overnight shelters, the Lark-Inn. This space provides a temporary home and safe space for Bay Area youths experiencing homelessness.

As a shelter that has not been renovated in many years, with dark interiors, inconsistent lighting levels, and inadequate sleeping quarters, Lark-Inn was not meeting its full potential to aid homeless youth. Through targeted and economical design interventions, the renovation is an investment in the future of everyone that will use the space for years to come. Fresh paint and wall graphics brought in pops of color and movement to stimulate energy in common spaces and invoke calmness and security in sleeping quarters. Durable flooring and casework will stand the test of time as the spaces are used to shelter and nurture. With new lighting, the shelter provides a sense of warmth and comfort. Plants were brought in to boost self-esteem and confidence, while also lessening anxiety. At the end of the day, Lark Inn transformed into an inspiring, refreshing space that is both visually appealing and emotionally uplifting.

The renovation of Larkin Street’s Lark-Inn stands as a testament to the incredible impact that can be achieved through collaborative efforts. AEC Cares partnered with four design firms, sponsors, and volunteers to come together to provide a thoughtful uplift to this safe space for youths in the Bay Area. It was all hands-on deck when the team collaborated over 5 months to design this renovation, then partnered together to physically build/install the upgrades over a 10-hour volunteer build day.

The design process started with coordination using a digital board to share ideas through imagery, texts, and sketches. Three firms tackled the three main spaces of the shelter: 1) Main Entry, 2) Social Space/Cafeteria, and 3) Dormitory, and the fourth firm the wall graphics in all three spaces. Every week for 5 months, calls were set up to ensure design strategies, construction documentation and sponsorship outreach were synchronized. Volunteer contractors also consulted to ensure that the designs could be built by in one day.

To prepare for the transformation, contractors coordinated with Larkin Street Youth to ensure the youths were safely relocated to a new shelter in advance of the install day and complete any required demolition. On event day, a leader from each firm became Project Managers to 20 to 30 volunteers to delegate tasks and bring the design to life. In total, 140 volunteers showed up at Lark-Inn and the upgrades you see are feasible through the commitment of multiple groups coming together to help others.

No renovation of this scale would be possible without the generous support of sponsors. Their commitment and dedication to creating positive change are truly commendable. This transformational project not only provided a physical facelift to the building but also symbolized a renewed sense of hope and resilience for youths experiencing homelessness.