Eden WERCS Adult Services Center

the opportunity

Eden Autism Services sought to transform an empty office building shell into two adjoining day centers for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The goal was to create environments that support daily living, socialization, and skill-building while also advancing Eden’s mission of outreach and education. Beyond serving participants, the facility needed to include spaces for training schoolteachers, healthcare workers, and professionals who regularly interact with individuals with ASD, strengthening public understanding and awareness.

our approach

Building on our long-standing partnership with Eden and expertise in ASD-responsive design, KSS reimagined the space around a central kitchen core — the heart of the campus. The commercial kitchen, equipped with duplicate heavy-duty appliances and durable furnishings, provides a setting where participants learn culinary skills, share community meals, and gather as a group. Light-filled common areas welcome participants each day, offering comfortable social spaces before transitioning into warm, colorful classrooms designed with ample storage for specialized educational materials. To support Eden’s leadership in public outreach, KSS incorporated a generous training room that expands their capacity to host on-site programs. This space advances Eden’s mission by providing an environment where teachers, healthcare workers, and community professionals can deepen their knowledge of ASD, fostering inclusion and understanding well beyond the campus.

Program

Commercial kitchen, classrooms, Living rooms/gathering areas, restrooms, offices, exercise room

Partners

Rock Brook Consulting Group, MEP
Harrison-Hamnett, P.C., Structural Engineer
Chuck Klein Consulting, Civil Engineer

Photography

Halkin Mason Photography