New A.E.R.O. campus brings light, nature, and comfort to special education students
A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative rented a 50-year-old facility to serve its 11 member school districts. A new campus provides a safe, nurturing environment with connections to daylight and nature for students with cognitive/physical disabilities and behavior/emotional diversities. The design responds to the challenges these students face and encourages them to become active members of the classroom.
The 150,000-square-foot facility, one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest, features neighborhoods that promote familiarity and comfort. Connections to secure courtyards support student/nature interactions, while the materials palette reflects the colors, textures, and forms of the natural environment.
The new school and its campus will allow A.E.R.O. to provide a full continuum of special education programs and an array of special education-related services. The safe and nurturing environment will promote inclusive efforts to maximize the success of students with disabilities in the classroom, school, and community.
Dr. James Gunnell, Executive Director, A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative
