This 24,000 s.f. residence for veterans with mental illnesses, funded by NY State, is sited in a dense urban neighborhood comprising a mix of frame buildings and multi-family dwellings.  A principal design concern was to break down the building mass while maintaining the street wall on Knickerbocker Avenue. The five story masonry building, a prototype for future special-needs housing of this kind, combines four floors of studio units with a ground floor of program spaces. These south-facing congregate spaces include a large dining room with commercial kitchen, living room, library, and exercise room, all opening onto a 4,000 s.f. garden. The studio units each have a custom designed kitchenette and full bathroom, and include furniture pieces and fabric covering designed by the architects.