Designing for Dignity: How Trauma-Informed Design is Shaping the New Tempe Community Action Agency Facility
After developing the architecture, interior design and environmental graphics for the new TCAA facility, RSP’s Mike Duffy, Liz Taylor and Kent McClure explain how it can serve as a model for other community-focused facilities using trauma-informed design principles.
Walking through the doors of the new Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center means stepping into a space designed to uplift, empower, and prioritize dignity. In collaboration with TCAA, our design team created a 24,000-SF facility that serves people experiencing housing, food, and economic insecurity with a fresh approach. Our team used trauma-informed design principles to make sure the space balances transparency and security, openness and privacy, all while staying within a nonprofit budget. More importantly, we designed a place where people feel seen, respected, and supported as they work toward stability.
TCAA and our team worked closely with the local community to make sure that the design fits architecturally and that the facility is seen as a solution to food and economic insecurity in the area. On top of that, the TCAA offices are co-located inside the building and visible to other building users, making it a unique layout for a shelter. This Design-Build project, a collaboration with CHASSE Building Team, serves as a model that can help support the most vulnerable in our society with organizations across the country.
Bringing Trauma-Informed Design to Life
For many who walk through these doors, this facility represents hope and a place to begin again. We knew we had to design for both safety and comfort, ensuring that every space within the building provided a sense of security without feeling institutional.
The layout encourages engagement while maintaining essential boundaries. A central atrium floods the space with natural light, offering a warm welcome and a moment of calm. Large windows offer visual connectivity between staff and residents, ensuring an open, approachable atmosphere while carefully placed acoustic panels provide privacy where needed. The team made every design choice to respect the dignity of those who use the space, allowing them to feel safe without feeling watched.
The balance between openness and security is especially important in the shelter and transitional housing areas. The shelter features sleeping arrangements that foster a sense of community while avoiding the cold, impersonal feel of a typical dormitory. Transitional housing units offer private bathrooms and micro-unit layouts, giving residents much-needed autonomy in their journey toward permanent housing. And TCAA employees have their own workspaces as well, creating a different but equally important need for the balance between openness and privacy.
Why Trauma-Informed Design Matters
Trauma-informed design was crucial to our design process. The people who use this facility have experienced hardship, and the built environment plays a critical role in helping them heal.
Traditional shelter models often neglect the psychological impact of design, creating spaces that feel more like containment facilities than places of refuge. We knew we had to do better. Natural light—something often missing in these environments—became a key component. Clerestory windows and skylights brighten common areas, reducing stress and improving mental well-being. Soft, warm materials replace harsh, sterile surfaces, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Wayfinding was another priority. Many residents come here in crisis, and the last thing they need is confusion about where to go. Clear visual cues, intuitive spatial organization, and thoughtful graphic design elements make navigation effortless, ensuring that people feel at ease from the moment they arrive.
Community-Focused Architecture on a Nonprofit Budget
Designing a beautiful space on a nonprofit budget required creativity and thoughtful decision-making. But we firmly believe that good design isn’t about how much you spend; it’s about how well you use resources.
We focused on high-impact areas, investing in materials and details where they would make the most difference. Durable yet cost-effective materials like wood trusses, concrete masonry, and metal panels were carefully chosen for both their function and aesthetics. Instead of spreading our budget too thin, we concentrated on the main entrance and atrium, ensuring that these spaces set the right tone for the entire facility.
Our team also leveraged uplifting, graphic storytelling to combat the typical institutional feel of these spaces, which is also an economical way to approach the interiors.
The kitchen and pantry serve as a hub for community support, offering both on-site meals and food distribution services. Every square foot of the building was designed with efficiency in mind, maximizing the impact of every dollar spent.
Designing with Dignity at the Core
At the heart of this project is a simple yet powerful idea: everyone deserves dignity. Too often, shelters are tucked away, designed with only function in mind, stripped of beauty and warmth. We wanted to change that narrative.
This facility is more than a shelter. It’s a space that fosters belonging. Residents find privacy in thoughtfully designed living areas, while communal spaces encourage social interaction and connection. Staff members work in an environment that supports their well-being, allowing them to better serve the community.
The building is also a proud part of its neighborhood, designed to integrate seamlessly into the surrounding area. Located near the light rail, it is accessible and welcoming, demonstrating that shelters can be assets rather than afterthoughts. After speaking and collaborating with the local community, we also believe that the East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center will become an asset to the neighborhood, where locals can volunteer, get to know and support the clients.
A Blueprint for the Future of Shelter Design
The TCAA project sets a new standard for shelter design. Trauma-informed design isn’t a luxury; it’s a responsibility. By prioritizing security, natural light, intuitive navigation, and aesthetics, we’ve created a space that heals, restores, and empowers.
This project proves that when we design with dignity, we build opportunities for people to rebuild their lives. We hope this facility serves as a model for other communities looking to rethink how they support those in need. Because at the end of the day, good design should be for everyone.
About the Authors:
Mike Duffy AIA, NCARB
Mike has an inquisitive nature that drives the design of innovative, mission-driven projects. He excels at master planning and has a knack for understanding the nuances that make a developer’s project successful. He knows how to listen and pick up on the little details others might miss. Whether it’s the creative, sustainable solutions at The Beam on Farmer, the trauma-informed design principles at the Tempe Community Action Agency, or the supportive design concepts at First Place and Minnesota Autism Center (MAC) High School, both projects created for young adults with autism, Mike’s projects reflect his commitment to creating spaces that prioritize user well-being and diverse communities.
Liz Taylor NCIDQ, AIGA, SEGD
Kent McClure AIA
Kent is known for his elegant design solutions and ability to dive deep into the details, Kent brings over two decades of experience to RSP’s Tempe team. His portfolio of work includes a mix of new builds and extensive renovations, for both public and private clients, including several museums and libraries. Known for his elegant, detail-driven approach and collaborative spirit, Kent thoughtfully balances conceptual vision with real-world constraints. His recent work on the new Tempe Community Action Agency facility reflects his belief that good design should serve and uplift everyone.