This month marks the beginning of construction on a project we are deeply honored to support – the expansion of the CHUM Center in downtown Duluth, MN. Since its founding in 1973, the CHUM Center has grown to be the “largest safety net [in the city] for those experiencing homelessness”; it is a coalition of people of faith and neighbors working together to provide stability, nourishment, and hope. The expansion represents an impactful project for the greater community of Duluth – one that directly addresses urgent housing needs while strengthening CHUM’s ability to provide services with dignity and care.
The expansion project reflects both the urgent need in Duluth, and CHUM’s unwavering commitment to meet it. The updated program spaces will allow CHUM to continue essential services such as the Hope Clinic, while also introducing transformative new features: improved bunkrooms, more flexible gathering areas, and—for the first time in the program’s history—individual Roomettes. These small, private living spaces honor the dignity of each resident while expanding capacity for shelter beds, housing, and wraparound services. Overall, the project increases CHUM’s shelter capacity by more than 200% – from 80 beds to 168 – ensuring that more neighbors can access safe shelter and the support they need to move forward.
This project is partly funded through a remarkable coalition of state and federal support, including Emergency Shelter Facilities Capital funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Community Project Funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The investment underscores just how critical CHUM’s mission is to Duluth and beyond. Move-in is anticipated before January 2027, with the promise of decades of impact to follow.
The building itself is designed with durability, resilience, and care. A facility that welcomes thousands of people each year must not only function but endure. Throughout the design of the project, it has been important to our team to choose materials and finishes designed for longevity that can uphold a dignified space for those sheltered in the building.
Together with CHUM, Johnson Wilson Constructors and our consultant partners we are building more than walls and rooms. We are helping to create housing solutions that honor the value of every individual. For all of us at Architecture Advantage, it is a privilege to help shape that future.
