Catholic Charities Education Center

The Catholic Charities Education Center in Washington, DC is a 35,000 square-foot education center that will bring together a non-public day school catering to children with disabilities (those up to 22 years of age) and a child development center for young children with and without developmental disabilities.

The ground floor is dedicated to the Child Development Center (CDC) and shared spaces, while the non-public day school is located primarily on the second floor. The innovative design prioritizes a state-of-the-art therapeutic learning environment for children, with a protected inner exterior courtyard. To avoid the stressors that small enclosed spaces can have on the population this facility serves, an internal ramp connecting the ground and second floors not only makes a bold architectural statement but also serves as an inclusive pathway for students and faculty.