The generous windows that line walls of this new apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, do more than just flood its hallways and bedrooms in sunlight: They’re part of a suite of design decisions that reflect the unique needs of its residents. Providence at the Heights, or PATH, is a supportive housing facility operated by the prison re-entry nonprofit Second Chance Center; the three-year-old building is filled with apartments for people who have been previously incarcerated.
“Many of us have been in places where you might have a window that’s four inches wide and four feet tall,” says Second Chance founder Hassan Latif, referring to the narrow window dimensions architects use in jails as a security strategy. “At PATH, we have what we call big-ass windows.”
