by Tracy Ostroff
Contributing Editor

How do you . . . give back to the community with pro bono services?

Summary: DMR Architects joined in a community effort to design a state-of-the-art educational facility for people ages 3 to 21 who have cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and other special needs. The firm is donating their services in what DMR calls a “barn-raising effort.”

The Special Children’s Center, which broke ground in January, is designed to house initially 28 children with special needs currently enrolled in the facility’s respite and support programs. It will replace an existing building in Lakewood, N.J., which had become too small for the number of children it serves.

“The construction and progress to date has gone according to plan,” says Lloyd Rosenberg, president and founder of DMR Architects in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. “I am happy that our team is able to be a part of such a great cause. We are thrilled to provide our services for an at-need population in the Lakewood community.”

Giving back
The Special Children’s Center provides free respite programs for special needs children ages 3-18 and their families, including after-school care, weekend and holiday programs, and summer day camps. Over the past decade, the center has experienced significant growth in the number of children it serves and in the scope of services it provides.

Rosenberg says his firm was introduced to the center by client and friend Ralph Zucker, of Somerset Development, the building committee chair for the center, who envisioned the project as one through which participants would contribute needed supplies and donate their services to raise the facility. DMR is providing design services and help with budget and approvals. Rosenberg says they are spending “tons of time” on the project, and that it is worth it to be such a part of the community effort.

“It’s like raising a barn,” he said of the program. Their connection to the project was solidified because of their relationship of the people who started the venture, with a “worthwhile, sincere effort.”

Designing for different populations
The student population changes at the center every year, so the architects had to create a space that would accommodate different ages and disabilities. “We had to be very flexible to accommodate a variety of people.” For example, he points out that the toilets accommodate different age groups.

“The program really is the essence of the building,” Rosenberg says. The architects were charged with making sure the square footage was enough to plan for changes. The design offers a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere that is beneficial to the children. The defined spaces include offices, play/learn areas, two kitchens, bathrooms, a therapy room, exercise room, baby room, changing rooms, and wash rooms.

Overall, though, the biggest challenge is creating a livable, accessible space for the students and caregivers. The colors are bright, varied, and upbeat. There are relief places and a lounge area for teachers so they, too, can have time off from daily activities.

Sweat equity
“The people we work with deserve better, but we knew this would not be an easy or an inexpensive undertaking,” notes Hindy Langer, executive director for the Special Children’s Center, about the $1.5 million project.

“Everybody participated,” Rosenberg says of the entire team. “The time, materials, and services all came together and made this happen. There is no weak link. Everyone worked together.”

The project has offered DMR a chance to flex its design muscle on a community-based project. It is also creating good will. “It’s a different way of getting a building done, with sweat equity,” Rosenberg says.