Shortly after the mayor of Los Angeles issued an emergency directive to provide temporary, transitory shelter for the city’s significant homeless population, the Schrader shelter’s plans were submitted and approved in less than three weeks. Construction was completed in just four months.

A major challenge at the onset was the discovery of a sewer line located farther north of the property line than it was designed. Finding a new location with the required clearance caused a ripple effect, pushing the domestic water and fire lines into the space for the building’s entry. The project team worked with the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power to relocate the meters and move the lines to more suitable locations.

Working within major schedule, budget and space constraints, the team designed sleeping accommodations within a large membrane structure to serve the most users possible while providing a sense of home for the 72 occupants. The shelter’s individual sleeping units are 6-ft by 8-ft modules that house a bed, cabinetry, a USB phone-charging station and room for a pet kennel.

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