Center for Disability Services Redesign

The Center for Disability Services has been serving its community for over 80 years with more than 80 locations over 15 counties. The center is a non profit organization that works to empower people with disabilities and give them the support they need to have happy, productive, and healthy lives. With over 300 different diagnoses, the center provides multiple programs and services for all age groups and abilities to ensure support for each individual that leads to successful growth. The task was to redesign the lobby for the Albany, NY location specifically for the Kevin G. Langan School and Clover Patch Preschool. The problem areas included, the non-functional layout, safety issues, accessibility concerns, acoustic issues, lack of visual appeal and overall branding, outdated and misused materials and colors. The goal was to address these issues and create a design where circulation can occur in a safe way and activities and operations can be more successful. Noise in the space will be lowered, lighting will be fixed, furniture will be updated to be more functional, imagery added, and signage updated. This solution will be valuable to everyone as the design will be focused on the students while making sure it is staff-friendly as well. By redesigning the lobby, it will become an environment where students feel welcomed immediately and excited to go to school. Whether students have to wait in the lobby or go through their lobby on their equipment for therapy, the redesign of the lobby will make those experiences more effective and enjoyable. This work is fundamentally important because every student at the Center for Disability Services deserves a high-quality environment. By prioritizing these design changes, it ensures that the lobby is a place where students feel comfortable, welcomed, and safe as soon as they enter the building.