St. Francis House
a new home for a beloved hospitality and donation distribution non-profit

Schemata Workshop has designed a new home for St Francis House - a non-profit organization serving very low-income and unhoused people. The 8,300sf space occupies the ground floor of a mixed-use building with affordable residential units above. The new facility will feature a hospitality lounge for patrons to come for coffee service and conversation; a reception area for intake of clients; personal shopping areas for clothing and household items; and a back of house area for receiving and sorting donations.

The project began with programming services to determine the ideal size of the facility. The resulting building program informed a space plan for the new commercial space including a mezzanine for additional storage and administrative functions. In addition to St Francis House, Schemata Workshop is collaborating with Plymouth Housing (the developer and operator of the affordable housing) and SMR Architects (the Architect for the shell and core). The project is currently under construction.