Designed in collaboration with Elwyn and an integrated design-build team, the new school will serve 260 students across two curriculum tracks: those with complex needs requiring intensive clinical support with onsite residential care and those building toward greater independence.听 | Photo Credit (all): KSS Architects
What You Need to Know听
- Elwyn held a groundbreaking Feb. 6 for a new school on its Media, Pa., campus as part of its master campus plan.听
- The facility is expected to be completed in August 2027, with plans to welcome students in fall 2027.听
- Elwyn said the school will support two curriculum tracks, including programming for students with complex behavioral needs and for students working toward greater independence.听
- Elwyn has听allocated听$45 million for construction and design, with financing provided by KeyBank.听
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MEDIA, Pa. 鈥斕鼸lwyn, a nonprofit human services organization, has launched construction on a new school intended to reshape the organization鈥檚 educational and therapeutic space for children with disabilities.听
The organization marked the start of work Feb. 6 with a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by elected officials, community partners,听staff听and students.听
The project听marks a milestone in听Elwyn鈥檚听master campus plan, with the organization approaching its 175th anniversary next year.听
鈥淎s we look ahead to our 175th anniversary, it鈥檚 thrilling to break ground on the New Elwyn School,鈥� said Charles S. McLister, Elwyn president and CEO, according to听. 鈥淭his project will set an example of what the future of education can look like for children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.鈥�听
, a full-service architecture, planning, and interior design firm, is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of the new听, a $45 million, 80,000-square-foot PreK鈥�12 facility听located听at the heart of Elwyn’s 260-acre historic campus in Media, Pennsylvania. The new school is the first phase of Elwyn鈥檚 $100 million redevelopment plans for the campus.听
Designed in collaboration with Elwyn and an integrated design-build team, the new school will serve 260 students across two curriculum tracks: those with complex needs requiring intensive clinical support with onsite residential care and those building toward greater independence.听听
“This project is about more than designing a school building; it’s about reimagining what a learning environment can do for students who have traditionally been underserved by conventional design,” said听Mayva听Donnon, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Partner at KSS Architects. “Every design decision is rooted in how听the space听will support students’ growth and independence. KSS is honored to partner with Elwyn by designing a campus that will champion inclusion and innovation for future generations.鈥�听听
The building is organized into learning neighborhoods that scale the environment to the individual student experience, offering calming, supportive spaces with direct views of nature using materials drawn from the character of Elwyn’s historic rural campus. A universal design framework rooted in neurodiversity informs every aspect of the plan, from intuitive wayfinding and biophilic design features to restorative spaces and integrated assistive technology. This approach fosters independence, wellness, and a genuine connection to place.听
Sensory rooms, decompression areas, and life skills kitchens complement classrooms and therapy spaces. Specialty program spaces, including music, art, a career discovery lab, and a gymnasium, support holistic student development. The result is a school that is both clinically informed and design-forward: a place where every detail, from the layout of a classroom to the materials on the walls, is grounded in how the space will help students feel, function, and thrive.听
Elwyn has听allocated听$45 million for the new school鈥檚 construction and design, with KeyBank providing financing. Elwyn also听identified听Haverford Development Partners as development and construction partner, with Haverford and North Star Construction slated to build the school.听The building is听anticipated听to be completed in August 2027, with plans to welcome students in fall 2027.听
This article is based on reporting originally published by Elwyn on Feb. 6, 2026.听