Pioneer Hall is a 12,000-square-foot building built by the Faison Center to serve as a hub for programming for adults. The building recently opened, capping off a campus-wide improvments project. (Jack Jacobs photos)
Faison Center’s eight-figure campus upgrade has come to fruition.
The autism nonprofit recently opened a 12,000-square-foot, two-story building called Pioneer Hall, which serves as the organization’s hub for its adult day services program connecting autistic adults with volunteer and social opportunities. The building features six classrooms, an instructional kitchen and a behavioral health clinic.
The building at 1600 Willow Lawn Drive was the last phase of a $24 million campus-wide improvement project at the nonprofit’s headquarters complex across from Willow Lawn shopping center and included construction of four new buildings.
The new-construction Pioneer Hall was built on the site formerly occupied by a 5,000-square-foot bank branch building used for various purposes until it was torn down for the new project.
Hourigan was the project’s general contractor. Architecture firm Baskervill designed the project. Timmons was the project engineer.
The Faison Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to commemorate the completion of Pioneer Hall.
In remarks during the ceremony, Faison Center CEO Brian McCann noted that the project provides the space needed to consolidate the nonprofit’s operations. Previously, the adult day program was headquartered in nearby leased office space.
“This building is special for many reasons. It is the first time all of our services have been on the same campus since we were just the Faison School. What’s special about that is that anyone who comes here to visit can see autism at all ages, all along the spectrum,” McCann said.
(From left) Paul, Debbie and Paige Edmunds, alongside Faison Center CEO Brian McCann, cut the ribbon on Pioneer Hall, the latest building at the autism nonprofit’s campus.
The new building is also home to the Paige Edmunds Clubhouse, which is a social and instructional space named for a former student of the school program and who is currently enrolled in the organization’s adult programming. She’s the daughter of Faison Center board member Paul Edmunds. Her mom, Debbie Edmunds, shared remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new building had been operational for a few weeks prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Faison Center said it has the capacity to grow its adult program to around 60 people now that Pioneer Hall is open. There are about 45 people enrolled in adult programming, which includes residents in an on-campus, semi-independent apartment complex called the Faison Residence.
Pioneer Hall features six classrooms and other spaces for the Faison Center’s programming for autistic adults.
Pioneer Hall was the last of four new buildings constructed per the 2017 master plan for the campus revamp. A fifth building was planned but ultimately was cut from the project. The Faison Center broke ground on Pioneer Hall in late 2022.
“The Faison board approved a really ambitious plan, and that was to grow our campus and expand our services,” McCann said.
Construction on Markel Hall at 5311 Markel Road was completed in May 2020. The 15,000-square-foot building houses classroom space, administrative offices and other facilities.
The Flo and Tony Guzman Community Center was opened in 2019. The previous year, the Faison Center opened the 18,000-square-foot, three-story Kirshner-Mihaloff Hall, which was an addition to the school for children who have autism.
McCann declined to share the specific cost of Pioneer Hall’s construction. The building’s construction costs, and other buildings constructed as part of the overall capital improvements plan, were covered by the Faison Center’s Forward into the Future fundraising campaign. The campaign launched in summer 2017 and was brought to a close in December 2022.
The Faison Center opened in 1999, when it was called the Faison School. In addition to its Willow Lawn campus, the nonprofit operates a school for autistic people in Newport News.
The organization reported $21.1 million in total revenue and $18.1 million in total expenses in fiscal year 2022, per its tax filings.
Pioneer Hall is a 12,000-square-foot building built by the Faison Center to serve as a hub for programming for adults. The building recently opened, capping off a campus-wide improvments project. (Jack Jacobs photos)
Faison Center’s eight-figure campus upgrade has come to fruition.
The autism nonprofit recently opened a 12,000-square-foot, two-story building called Pioneer Hall, which serves as the organization’s hub for its adult day services program connecting autistic adults with volunteer and social opportunities. The building features six classrooms, an instructional kitchen and a behavioral health clinic.
The building at 1600 Willow Lawn Drive was the last phase of a $24 million campus-wide improvement project at the nonprofit’s headquarters complex across from Willow Lawn shopping center and included construction of four new buildings.
The new-construction Pioneer Hall was built on the site formerly occupied by a 5,000-square-foot bank branch building used for various purposes until it was torn down for the new project.
Hourigan was the project’s general contractor. Architecture firm Baskervill designed the project. Timmons was the project engineer.
The Faison Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to commemorate the completion of Pioneer Hall.
In remarks during the ceremony, Faison Center CEO Brian McCann noted that the project provides the space needed to consolidate the nonprofit’s operations. Previously, the adult day program was headquartered in nearby leased office space.
“This building is special for many reasons. It is the first time all of our services have been on the same campus since we were just the Faison School. What’s special about that is that anyone who comes here to visit can see autism at all ages, all along the spectrum,” McCann said.
(From left) Paul, Debbie and Paige Edmunds, alongside Faison Center CEO Brian McCann, cut the ribbon on Pioneer Hall, the latest building at the autism nonprofit’s campus.
The new building is also home to the Paige Edmunds Clubhouse, which is a social and instructional space named for a former student of the school program and who is currently enrolled in the organization’s adult programming. She’s the daughter of Faison Center board member Paul Edmunds. Her mom, Debbie Edmunds, shared remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new building had been operational for a few weeks prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Faison Center said it has the capacity to grow its adult program to around 60 people now that Pioneer Hall is open. There are about 45 people enrolled in adult programming, which includes residents in an on-campus, semi-independent apartment complex called the Faison Residence.
Pioneer Hall features six classrooms and other spaces for the Faison Center’s programming for autistic adults.
Pioneer Hall was the last of four new buildings constructed per the 2017 master plan for the campus revamp. A fifth building was planned but ultimately was cut from the project. The Faison Center broke ground on Pioneer Hall in late 2022.
“The Faison board approved a really ambitious plan, and that was to grow our campus and expand our services,” McCann said.
Construction on Markel Hall at 5311 Markel Road was completed in May 2020. The 15,000-square-foot building houses classroom space, administrative offices and other facilities.
The Flo and Tony Guzman Community Center was opened in 2019. The previous year, the Faison Center opened the 18,000-square-foot, three-story Kirshner-Mihaloff Hall, which was an addition to the school for children who have autism.
McCann declined to share the specific cost of Pioneer Hall’s construction. The building’s construction costs, and other buildings constructed as part of the overall capital improvements plan, were covered by the Faison Center’s Forward into the Future fundraising campaign. The campaign launched in summer 2017 and was brought to a close in December 2022.
The Faison Center opened in 1999, when it was called the Faison School. In addition to its Willow Lawn campus, the nonprofit operates a school for autistic people in Newport News.
The organization reported $21.1 million in total revenue and $18.1 million in total expenses in fiscal year 2022, per its tax filings.
For those interested in why autism is on the rise, I would suggest reading one of RFK, Jr.’s books which touches on the subject (e.g., The Real Anthony Fauci). More importantly would be the book Turtles All the Way Down which explains that no childhood vaccine —none— has ever been safety tested.
Disgusting comment.
Lmao “disgusting.” What fragility.
Been wonderful working with Faison on this project over the years! Congratulations on getting this finished!