Central Virginia Community Services Board (now Horizons Behavioral Health) contracted with Architectural Partners (AP) to design two similar group homes for developmentally disabled adults who were being de-institutionalized from the Central Virginia Training Center in Madison Heights, VA. Each house serves as a home for four adults and has office space for staff; living, dining and kitchen facilities; a family room; an outdoor deck area; and one home has a recreation/learning area in its basement. Both homes have proven to be excellent living environments for adults with disabilities and have saved the State of Virginia considerable money when compared to the cost of annual institutionalization of these residents.
These homes fit attractively and respectfully into the existing neighborhood which leads into the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church campus. To the casual observer and visitor, these two facilities would simply be deemed….”the nicest homes in the neighborhood,” as the architecture in no way makes a distinction or a statement about the challenges of its residents. Finally and most importantly, these facilities have made their residents happier, more independent and healthier….the universal measurement of a good design and any human success.