Rutgers University – Adult Autism Services Community Center

Owner / architect: Rutgers University / KSS Architects

Epic interiors’ role: General Contractor 

Construction costs: $ 6.4 Million 

Completion date: April 2021

Project scope: The Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services Community Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is the first of its kind at a higher education institution in the United States. The state-of-the-art building includes vocational, social and life skills teaching areas, individual and group training rooms, a professional kitchen, recreational and common spaces, offices and meeting rooms. 

The building is a steel framed, Type IIB structure. The exterior wall systems include a masonry cavity wall with clinker brick and limestone cladding, cement fiber board soffit and wall cladding, curtainwall and storefront window systems. A wood slat screen system provides shading for the façade, entry trellis and pavilion structure. The sloped roof structure will be exposed in several areas inside the building, with clerestory glazing; the roofing material will be membrane system with decorative battens. The building’s design was influenced by nature and the construction used natural building materials, such as wood and stone, and other features such as the pitched roof, flooring, lighting and landscaping to make occupants feel connected to the natural environment.  Particular attention was paid to sensory impacts, such as using materials that reduce noise and alcoves with soft edges that allow for privacy.

Site improvements included a landscaped courtyard with exposed aggregate concrete walkways, pole mounted site lighting, site furnishings, a steel and wood trellis, concrete sidewalks, asphalt parking areas, retaining walls, regrading, storm water infrastructure and signage. New utility connections as well as relocation of utilities were required.