Project Description
The Eden Institute, the founding program of the private nonprofit organization Eden Family of Services, provides families and their children affected by autism with year-round educational and outreach services. Impressed with the organization’s mission and role in the community, KSS was honored to help Eden find a new home. Determined to give Eden the best location and design, KSS identified and analyzed many sites and eventually selected a site on the periphery of Princeton Forrestal Village, a mixed-use development. The environment provides teachers and students a strong sense of community, shared athletic and event resources, as well as ample open space and walking trails. KSS collaborated with Eden to design the new school, which incorporates “best practices” including a sensory motor room and weight room. The school centers on its vocational and therapy areas, envisioned as a house and an office. The house, a space for students to learn routine activities such as making their bed, also has lounge areas. The office serves as a vocational resource for learning how to perform administrative work. A school store, in partnership with Wawa, gives older students experience in retail and public interaction. The L-shaped building is configured around a central courtyard for younger students to play and explore.