Designing Supportive Housing as a Neighborhood

Amber Grace, a faith-based nonprofit founded by David and Debbie Turner, was created in response to a deeply personal and widely shared need: What happens after secondary school, when adults with developmental disabilities need more than housing alone? The project’s objective was to create a safe, supportive, and enriching place where residents could build independence, contribute to community life, and form lasting social connections.

“The IDD community is one of the most underserved populations, and there is a lack of social infrastructure that supports these individuals and allows them to establish meaningful connections with others,” said Tim Fish, principal at Cooper Carry. With Amber Grace, he added, “the end goal was to design an engaging and authentic built environment where human bonds are fostered and encouraged.”

Planning for Connection, Privacy, and Independence

That goal shaped the project as a neighborhood rather than an institution. The village green serves as the community’s center of activity, encouraging walkability, visibility, and everyday interaction. Pathways connect residences, gathering spaces, and shared amenities, creating opportunities for casual encounters while helping residents navigate the campus with confidence. The homes are paired to create shared courtyards, reinforcing a residential rhythm and giving neighbors additional places to connect.

Inside each home, six residents have individual apartments or rooms that open into central shared living areas. That planning strategy supports both independence and oversight: Residents maintain private space while remaining visually and socially connected to a family-style common area. Each home also includes a Support Family, providing guidance and reinforcement within a setting that feels domestic, not clinical.

Interior Design Choices That Support Belonging

The interiors extend that balance of support and autonomy. While each home has its own character, the overall aesthetic is intentionally peaceful and restorative, using muted tones, soft textures, and natural materials selected to be sensorily appropriate. Those choices matter in a community designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where comfort, predictability, and a reduced sense of overwhelm can help residents feel grounded and at home.

The community center expands the project’s role beyond residential living. Dining facilities, classrooms, art spaces, indoor and outdoor fitness and recreation areas, healthcare, and a cosmetology studio support daily life, social connection, practical learning, and personal care. These amenities position Amber Grace as a long-term community rather than a transitional program, with spaces intended to support residents as they age in place.

“This was a heartfelt effort from every partner involved,” said Debbie Turner, co-founder of Amber Grace Community at Berry College, adding that the community is intended to serve as “a blueprint for other programs supporting adults with intellectual disabilities.”

For commercial and contract designers, Amber Grace offers a clear lesson: Inclusive design is not only about access or compliance. It can also be expressed through site planning, adjacencies, sensory cues, residential-scale finishes, and spaces that make connection feel natural. By designing for both safety and self-direction, Cooper Carry created a community that supports belonging without sacrificing independence.