Date of Submission
Spring 5-12-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Jade Yang
Abstract
This thesis proposes a supportive housing and cultural campus for aging survivors of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Atlanta. As advances in medicine have transformed HIV from a terminal illness into a chronic condition, a growing population of long-term survivors is now reaching older adulthood while facing increased rates of chronic illness, housing insecurity, stigma, and social isolation. Atlanta, one of the nation’s historic HIV epicenters, has seen a significant rise in older adults living with HIV while simultaneously experiencing declines in HIV housing support infrastructure.
Located along the Atlanta BeltLine, the project combines permanent supportive housing with community and public-facing cultural programming. Housing is organized through smaller household clusters designed to foster familiarity, accessibility, and a sense of chosen family while avoiding institutional living conditions. Shared domestic spaces, including kitchens, dining rooms, and living areas, act as everyday community spaces within each household.
The project also introduces a public BeltLine detour that carves through the site and connects visitors to a gallery, café, event spaces, and resident maker spaces. These programs are intended to amplify resident voices through art, storytelling, and public engagement while creating greater visibility for a population often overlooked within the city.
Through housing, community, and cultural expression, the project explores how architecture can support aging with dignity while reconnecting long-term survivors to public life.