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Center For Discovery

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THE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY
MASTER PLAN

Harris, NY

Planning: G5 Architects

Landscape Design: Dave Kamp, Dirtworks

The Center for Discovery is a live-in dormitory community for children and adults with multiple disabilities and medical frailties. It seeks to provide them and their families with innovative educational, clinical, living, and social experiences designed to enrich their lives through personal accomplishment. Through an integrative approach that involves teachers, therapists and other hands-on staff, as well as advanced technologies, residents are stimulated to move, think, make choices, and to recognize within themselves unique skills and abilities that can be improved over time.

Located in Harris, NY, the site includes over 200 acres of natural wetlands, ponds, and creeks, as well as undisturbed forest. The Center includes live-in dormitories, classrooms, an on-site farm dedicated to biodynamic agriculture, a bed and breakfast for family members, a therapeutic horseback riding stable, a health center, as well as administrative and maintenance buildings. Current expansion plans include a new campus for autistic children, an International Family Center dedicated to the education and enrichment of resident’s families, and a conference center now under construction.

Our analysis focused on a full site-and-usage evaluation report aimed at identifying the ideal location for future expansion and growth. We were also charged with establishing energetic criteria for future planning. In addition to a Master Plan that will regulate future development in the campus, our contributions included various adjustments to the land and water patterns, including rituals and ceremonies, as well as structures intended to balance and harmonize those energies.