Carving a New Path | Women Designing for Women (PID158)

2pm – 2.30pm EST, 20 February 2025 ‐ 30 mins

Parallel Workshops

Women Designing for Women establishes a new paradigm, breaks with the tradition of men designing space and places for women by adapting men-centric correctional models to serve the needs of incarcerated women. The new Heart River facility reflects the experiences and input of current and former residents of the North Dakota correctional system. The lead designer embedded the feedback of the women, translating feedback into the design, drawing from her own personal experiences as a girl, adolescent, woman, and mother to create healthy, trauma-informed spaces full of daylight. Spaces for living, reflecting, socializing, and restoring relationships with their families and children. 
The new 296-bed program rich facility features apartment style living units that promote healthy, normalized environments. Spaces for respite, gathering, and movement offering residents opportunities to build community connections, trustful relationships with staff, and a sense of community, supporting DOCR’s philosophical mission that encourages growth, self-improvement, and positive experiences.