Children's Institute, Inc. Otis Booth Campus | Koning Eizenberg Architecture

The adaptive reuse of three industrial buildings created the headquarters for a non-profit organization that assists children and families exposed to violence. The campus is split by an alley with the north site focusing on preschool and early childhood services and the south site anchored around a community center offering educational programs (art, technology, nutrition, and after-school) as well as counseling services. A key part of the process was re-thinking program organization to reveal opportunities for creative and collaborative community engagement. Notes of Interest The adaptive reuse of three industrial buildings created the headquarters for a non-profit organization that assists children and families exposed to violence. The campus is split by an alley with the north site focusing on preschool and early childhood services and the south site anchored around a community center offering educational programs (art, technology, nutrition, and after-school) as well as counseling services. Therapy rooms are dispersed around community spaces to make visits an everyday, rather than clinical, experience. This innovative strategy deinstitutionalizes the services’ traditional delivery and builds trust in a neighborhood in need of both counseling and community programs. On a tight budget ($10.5 million), the design provides required amenities that also add a sense of identity and welcome. A key part of the process was re-thinking program organization to reveal opportunities for creative and collaborative community engagement.