Historic School Transformed into Boston’s first LGBTQ-Affirming Affordable Senior Housing Community

<sub>The Pryde Hyde Park

Article Written By: Jigna Shah, Shaw Contract Vice President Strategic Accounts, Healthcare + Senior Living | Published by Shaw Contract</sub> 

The Pryde: A Model for LGBTQ Affordable Senior Living Housing in Boston

The Pryde Hyde Park is Boston’s first LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior housing community, designed to foster dignity, connection and authenticity for residents ages 62 and older. The Pryde transforms the historic Rogers School in the Hyde Park neighborhood into 74 vibrant, mixed-income apartments that celebrate individuality and community. The community is guided by the motto “Out at Home: Affordable Community for All,” offering a safe and welcoming environment where LGBTQ seniors and allies can live authentically and confidently among an intergenerational community.

Beyond housing, The Pryde is a hub for enrichment and engagement. Residents enjoy access to a large auditorium for performances and events, as well as a public community center that includes an art gallery, library and education spaces. These amenities support lifelong learning, creativity and social connection — key components to healthy aging. The Pryde not only meets LEED Silver certification standards but also exceeds accessibility requirements, making it a model for inclusive, sustainable senior living.

The Pryde Combats Isolation and Insecurity Among LGBTQ Elders

The U.S. housing industry is facing inventory shortages and increased prices, making it increasingly difficult for low- and middle-income buyers to find homes. For older adults living on fixed incomes, the availability of affordable housing that also provides a range of care, from independent living to assisted support, is extremely limited. These challenges are even more pronounced for LGBTQ+ seniors, who often face greater financial hardship and social isolation, compounding the difficulties of aging with dignity, according to the SAGE Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders national advocacy organization.

According to the Dignity 2022: The Experience of LGBTQ Older Adults by AARP study, 85 percent of older LGBTQ individuals are concerned about discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 52 percent of respondents noted they felt secluded and lacked companionship. Many respondents highlighted financial concerns such as food insecurity and rising cost of medical care and housing costs.

LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc., developer Pennrose and architecture firm DiMella Shaffer, seeks to address these needs through The Pryde, the first LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior housing development in New England.

Meeting the Needs of Aging LGBTQ+ Adults Through Inclusive Design

For The Pryde project, DiMella Shaffer blended the interiors across the building’s three distinct wings by using a neutral palette. In contrast, each shared space is accented with design elements inspired by the vibrant colors of the LGBTQ pride flag. To help achieve this vision, the design firm specified a variety of Shaw Contract area rugs to ground seating areas, including the Flame and Graffiti area rugs. Thoughtful LVT in Gesture is used in a resident lounge area.

_{Thoughtful LVT in Gesture}

More about the area rugs and LVT hard surface flooring: 

• Thoughtful LVT in Gesture – Part of the Creating Space collection, the LVT features softly abstract, textural patterns designed to enhance creativity and well-being. 
• Flame area rug in Expression – From the West Elm + Shaw Contract collection, the rug showcases vibrant colors and abstract strokes, bringing a bold, modern aesthetic to interior spaces 
• Graffiti area rug in Vibe – A collaboration with Mike Ford, this rug draws from hip-hop culture, using fluid lettering styles and layered textures to express energy and identity.

_{Flame area rug in Expression}

Learn more about the project.