Supporting special education programs for local students

The Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency (CCRESA) provides support services to schools in mid-Michigan through programs like special education, speech, and physical therapy for students from birth to 26 years old. The Educational Center that houses these programs will undergo renovations to reorganize the layout, improve security, and create an inviting environment for students, families, and staff.  

Several classrooms and support rooms will be updated and reorganized to improve the traffic flow and wayfinding experience throughout the facility. Classrooms will be more equal in size and will have easier access to adjacent bathrooms. The current emotionally impaired classroom will have new, dedicated quiet areas and space for individual work. The group playroom will be moved closer to the building’s entrance, which is more central to therapists and counsellors and provides closer parking for students and families. The updates also create space for a new life skills classroom that will simulate independent or assisted living environments with instruction for cooking, home making, and laundry. A new drop off and unloading zone for building deliveries will also be added to the back of the building, alleviating cross traffic between trucks and families at the entrance, creating a safer entry experience. 

The secure vestibule at the entrance of the Educational Center will be improved to help decrease debris from inclement weather entering the building. The updated lobby will act as a gathering space that is relaxing and soothing, with a calming and botanical inspired color palette that reflects nature. The lobby will invite views into the student activity spaces and become a place where students want to gather that is welcoming rather than overwhelming. 

Materials choices throughout the facility were carefully selected to create a positive experience for students while still being maintenance friendly. New energy efficient windows and an expanded mechanical room to support the facility upgrades will maintain the comfort of building users. The overall building improvements aim to better service diverse student needs and support the staff who serve the CCRESA community.