Bethesda Home for Boys, Eckberg Educational Building

Savannah, Georgia

Firm

Hussey Gay Bell & DeYoung International, Inc.

Client

Bethesda Home for Boys

Area

28,617 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$3,000,000

Completion Date

10/2004

Bethesda Home for Boys is the oldest children’s home in America. For 265 years, this home has been serving orphans and youths with a variety of adjustment problems. An updated school facility to support the learning needs of the boys was essential.
Because of special needs of the students, less than half of the new facility was to be classrooms. The remainder was to be offices for social workers, staff, counselors and a chaplain.
The building schedule was immovable, while donorship was urgent.
The design team worked closely with the executive director in planning the Eckberg Educational Building. The 24,000-square-foot facility holds eight modern classrooms for students in grades 1 to 12, a media center, wireless computer lab, boardroom and offices. Each classroom has an adjacent observation room for social caseworkers.
The design emphasized common areas such as the lobby, a 4,617-square-foot courtyard, and an assembly room for school and social events. These areas also provide donorship opportunities.