Morris-Union Jointure Commission, Developmental Learning Center-Warren
Warren, New Jersey
The Developmental Learning Center-Warren, a new learning facility for educating students with autism, has the look and feel of a real community. The vision was to recreate the outside world, while maintaining safety, security and structure within a self©\contained, controlled environment. The design brings the world to the classroom.
¡°Mainstreet¡±¡ªa skylighted, central corridor¡ªis the heart and soul of the facility, complete with storefronts, canopies, clouds, a mock bank, supermarket, home-improvement center, barber shop and apartment. Along this central spine, students receive hands©\on training for everyday life skills within a real©\world atmosphere. A 1950s-style diner under the main atrium serves not only as a mock restaurant to develop students¡¯ social skills, but also as the faculty dining room. The facility contains a gymnasium with an elevated indoor track, health and fitness center, and two swimming pools that are developmentally appropriate for the beginner, as well as advanced swimmers, and ideal for aquatic therapy.
Occupants are sensory©\sensitive; therefore, careful consideration was given to placement of natural and artificial light sources, acoustic control, thermal comfort, pleasing exterior and interior colors, and tactile surfaces.
Additional Information
Capacity
250
Cost per Sq Ft
$214.00
Featured in
2008 Architectural Portfolio
Category
Specialized
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