Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence In Autism And Developmental Disorders: Photo Tour
Ben Gancsos
Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Development Disorders: Providing options for participants to make their own choices was crucial to the design of the space. The indoor gymnasium features a tiered seating area where participants can observe activity without being directly in the center of it, and an indoor climbing wall helps with motor skills. Interior windows allow clinicians to monitor participants. Artwork inspired by nature reflects the local landscape, and a folding glass wall blurs the boundary between the interior and exterior space, reinforcing the a connection to nature.
Ben Gancsos
Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Development Disorders: Color-blocked wall finishes throughout the facility assist with wayfinding and self-navigation. In the corridor, bright bold colors create a playful and engaging space. Pentagonal alcoves provide a comfortable place for children to play, relax, or recalibrate to their surroundings. Clerestory windows between the classroom and corridor bring in natural light, and circular ceiling “clouds” enhance the playful design while dampening acoustics.
Ben Gancsos
Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Development Disorders: Observation rooms with two-way mirror allows for clinical observation without interruption. Using color as a wayfinding device, classrooms are painted with a yellow, green, blue, or orange accent wall. Different seating types offer choices to children, and an interactive smart tv TV enhances learning. A gradient finish on the windows lets in views of the treetops and sky, fading to an opaque finish that reduces distractions while allowing light to filter through. This solution eliminates the need for window treatments with potential hazards.
Ben Gancsos
Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Development Disorders: The life skills classroom gives participants a place to become familiar with every-day situations that may cause stress. Here, a barber station allows kids to prepare for haircuts. A local grocery store donated the register and conveyor belt for participants to practice job skills. This classroom also has a dental chair, phlebotomy chair, and small kitchen for participants to practice life skills and get acquainted with common neurotypical environments.
Ben Gancsos
Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Development Disorders: The “Tree of Life” in the building’s central core conceals a support column and serves as a wayfinding cue for self-navigation. The point provides access the child day treatment program, indoor gymnasium, and staff support spaces. An adjacent hallway has a custom lighting feature with an illuminated star pattern to symbolize a starry night.
Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders
The 28,000-square-foot Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders in Portland, Maine, consolidates services under one roof. It houses a children’s day treatment program (preschool, K-12), adult day treatment program, outpatient care, and clinical research.
Although the project was originally planned as a two-story building, wetlands and soil limited the buildable footprint. The design was reconfigured to a one-story, L-shaped building with two wings that meet at a central core where the main lobby and gymnasium are located. The preschool/K-12 day treatment program is located in one wing, and the adult and child outpatient programs, clinical therapy and treatment, and administrative offices are situated in the other.
The clinical/outpatient treatment wing supports the adult and child outpatient treatment programs, clinical research, and caregiver training. Participants can receive routine medical and dental care in a familiar setting at the facility’s medical exam, dental exam, and lab space.
Twenty-two offices support facility staff including adult and child psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, researchers, medical personnel, and program administrators. Offices are located on the perimeter, while behavioral treatment space and corresponding observation rooms are centrally located.
In the preschool/K-12 wing, eight classrooms are arranged in two corridors along the perimeter of the building with support spaces in the middle. Observation rooms with two-way mirrored glass allow caregivers to supervise without interfering and inform participant treatment plans.
A life skills room helps participants prepare for real life situations that may be stressful, such as going to the dentist, getting a haircut, or getting blood drawn. Students can also practice job skills with a grocery store conveyor belt and check-out counter that was donated by a local grocery store. Two sensory rooms have tumble mats, crash pads, and physical and occupational therapy equipment.
The project was designed as a clinical research facility with a fully equipped “autism classroom of the future.” Participants use wearable biosensors to monitor sleep, circadian rhythms, and other biometrics. In the observation rooms, an integrated AV system captures synchronized high resolution data; a central charging cart and specialty charging stations were incorporated into the millwork.
A strategic use of color and materials encourages self-navigation, exploration, and communication. For example, the facility features a palette of yellow, orange, blue, green, and grays. Pale hues are applied in low-stimulation settings, and bright, bold hues are used in higher stimulation spaces. Additionally, the design focuses on a nature/camping theme, reflecting the surrounding Maine landscape.
Project details for Glickman Lauder Center of Excellence in Autism and Developmental Disorders:
Location: Portland, Maine
Completion date: August 2021
Owner: Maine Behavioral Healthcare
Total building area: 28,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $11.4 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $407
Architecture firm: E4H Environments for Health Architecture (Portland, Maine)
Interior design: E4H Environments for Health Architecture (Boston)
General contractor: Langford & Low Construction
Engineering: Stantec (MEP), Foley Buhl Roberts (structural), Ransom Engineers (civil)
Builder: Langford & Low Construction
