The objective of this master plan was to create nurturing environments to help steer troubled youths away from a devastating cycle of crime. Our planning and design concepts were developed to be rich in programs to address the full spectrum of need: psychiatric, educational, therapeutic, spiritual, medical, social, and recreational. The original master plan mapped out the total replacement of the existing secure juvenile centers, Horizon and Crossroads, encompassing nearly 500,000 sf.
However, in April of 2017, New York State passed “Raise the Age” legislation requiring those in the adult system below the age of 18 be treated as juveniles and be moved off Rikers Island by October of 2018. This demanded radical and rapid reformulation of previous system and facility strategies, an extension of services, and an amended master plan that would instead renovate and expand the existing facilities while maintaining security operations throughout construction.