Corcoran Ota
Corcoran Ota

Unity Place: Police Housing That Brings Peace, Order & Camaraderie

Unity Place is a pro-bono project completed in 2022 that lifted our spirits—and an entire police force at the same time.

Unity Place Apd Officer Housing Featured 03

Unity Place is a pro-bono project that we worked on in partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation and their Secure Neighborhoods initiative. Completed in 2022, we designed 12 apartments that house up to 30 local police recruits in the English Avenue neighborhood of southwest Atlanta as a way to bring them closer to their neighbors while they train and prepare to join the local force. These well appointed homes not only deter crime in the area, but they also help young police officers build bonds with the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve.

It wasn’t long ago that the Atlanta Police Foundation came up with this simple, yet groundbreaking idea: give recruits an affordable housing option in the heart of the communities they’ll eventually serve. Many of these burgeoning officers come from other parts of the state and country, and these residences afford them the opportunity to temporarily reside where they train. When they live and breathe the everyday nuances that come with residing in a particular neighborhood, they’re able to build stronger connections with these places and the people that live and work there. According to our Principal architect, Michael Corcoran, “It’s all about learning the dynamics and culture of a community which, in turn, allows you to better empathize with its members.”

Unity Place Apd Officer Housing Featured 01
Unity Place Apd Officer Housing Gallery 14

This innovative program is the first of its kind in the country, and it has seen such success that the Foundation is planning for more residences just like it. It also carries a special place in our hearts, as our team was particularly passionate about this pro-bono project, “It was amazing to design a residential community that stands for so much more than your typical housing development. Unity is a perfect name for this place because it really does speak to the crux—bringing police closer to the people they serve. It’s so simple, yet so powerful,” says Daniela Cardona, Manager of Quality Control for Unity Place.

For more information about Unity Place and the mark it’s making, check out this video.

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