Dream Campus 2.0

History

For almost fifty years since our founding in 1969, we have been moving from one temporary location to another. In 2016, it was a dream come true for us to acquire our current 4.6 acre campus and to finally have a permanent home.

We hustled to move into the new campus in 2017–making the best of the existing concrete block building for our students and clients with profound Autism–and have made a number of upgrades to the existing campus since then.

Our Goal

Start

Donate today

Need for Campus Upgrade

In the nine years we have been on our current campus, the population of individuals with profound Autism has doubled while we have remained the same size. However, with our Vision 2030 strategic plan we continue to make meaningful progress. Over the past few years, we have expanded both our school and adult programs, strengthened the connection between them, and increased opportunities for students and clients to engage in the community in meaningful ways.

Through these combined efforts we are ensuring the financial security of our organization. In order to increase our impact, we need to add four additional classrooms, a new space for our adult program, and the intentional indoor and outdoor spaces needed for those we serve.

Dream Campus 2.0 Concepts

Intentional Design for Our Population

We are excited to continue expanding our campus by acquiring the property directly across the street at 1470 McKinley Avenue—to create our combined Dream Campus 2.0. This expansion will significantly increase our facility space while preserving the outdoor areas on our current campus. 
‍
As we renovate both properties, we will incorporate years of feedback to create spaces that better meet the needs of our students and adult clients, including accommodations for noise and light sensitivities, dedicated vocational and daily living skills areas, and purpose-built classrooms for our Adult Program.   Moving from a converted gymnasium to classrooms designed specifically for learning will provide a more functional, supportive environment for our adult clients.We will also continue our partnership with Magical Bridge to create an Elevated Park on our current campus—a 31,000-square-foot outdoor space with a sport court, bike path, track, swings, and spinners for all of our programs to enjoy.

Ensure safety
and security

Maximize familiarity,
stability and clarity

Enhance dignity

Minimize sensory
overload

Foster health
and wellness

Ensure durability

Developing life
skills including
vocational skills

Allow opportunities for
controlling social
interaction and privacy

Provide adequate
choice and
independence

Our Partners

We are extremely grateful to work alongside our strategic partners—E2 Architecture, Magical Bridge Foundation, Swenson Builders and City National Bank—whose expertise, vision, and shared commitment are helping bring Dream Campus 2.0 to life.

Construction Timeline

We are incredibly excited about our Dream Campus 2.0 project. While the timeline below may continue to evolve, we wanted to share our current plans and progress. We are preparing to begin renovations soon on our new property. We look forward to bringing this vision to life and creating thoughtfully designed spaces that will support our students and adult clients for generations to come.

PHASE 1: PROPERTY ACQUISITION (AUGUST 2026)

✓

Purchase the new property across the street from our current St. Elizabeth campus - 1470 McKinley Ave. The McKinley campus is a 2 acre property which has two buildings with a total of 14,000+ sq ft.

PHASE 2: RENOVATION OF MCKINLEY CAMPUS
& PROGRAM EXPANSION (FOLLOWING 12–18 MONTHS)

Renovate the McKinley campus
Adult Program and new school classrooms move into the McKinley campus
Start expanding our enrollment in both the adult and school programs

PHASE 3: COMPLETION OF ST. ELIZABETH CAMPUS
& FURTHER GROWTH (FINAL 18–24 MONTHS)

Convert the current Adult Program space on the St. Elizabeth campus back into a multi purpose room/gymnasium
Build the Magical Bridge elevated park on St. Elizabeth campus
Renovate existing St. Elizabeth campus classrooms

FINAL: Complete all renovations and construction!

Dream Campus 2.0

History

Our Goal

Need for Campus Upgrade

Dream Campus 2.0 Concepts

Dream Campus 2.0 Concepts

Intentional Design for Our Population

Our Partners

Construction Timeline

PHASE 1: PROPERTY ACQUISITION (AUGUST 2026)

PHASE 2: RENOVATION OF MCKINLEY CAMPUS & PROGRAM EXPANSION (FOLLOWING 12–18 MONTHS)

PHASE 3: COMPLETION OF ST. ELIZABETH CAMPUS & FURTHER GROWTH (FINAL 18–24 MONTHS)

PHASE 2: RENOVATION OF MCKINLEY CAMPUS
& PROGRAM EXPANSION (FOLLOWING 12–18 MONTHS)

PHASE 3: COMPLETION OF ST. ELIZABETH CAMPUS
& FURTHER GROWTH (FINAL 18–24 MONTHS)