Photo: The new two-story, 24,173-square-foot facility combines residential and educational areas in one building and creates a supportive environment for students with unique sensory needs. | Photo Credit: Path Construction
By Lindsey Coulter
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker joined local, state, and community leaders Nov. 3 to celebrate the opening of a new facility at the Philip J. Rock Center and School, the nation’s only publicly funded residential school for deaf-blind children. The facility will provide residency and education for up to 20 full-time students and was made possible by a $21.5 million investment from the Rebuild Illinois capital program.
The new two-story, 24,173-square-foot facility combines residential and educational areas in one building and creates a supportive environment for students with unique sensory needs. The scope of work included dormitories for extended-stay students, new classrooms, afterschool activity rooms, and support spaces.
“For nearly 50 years, the Philip J. Rock Center and School has provided tailored, inclusive educational and residential experiences for deaf-blind children in Illinois, providing transformational programs that build confidence and forge a path to independence,” said Pritzker in a statement. “In Illinois, we understand that it’s our responsibility to ensure every child has the support they need and the opportunities they deserve. We take that responsibility seriously and we put our action behind those words.”
The Center was established by Public Law 79-966 in 1975 as the Illinois Deafblind Service Center and School, in response to a surge in infants born deaf and blind following the national rubella epidemic. The first five students who enrolled in 1978 took classes in a convent behind a local church. Over the years, as demand for the school’s services and housing grew, the State of Illinois purchased the Manor Convalescent Center and moved the campus to the top of Baker Hill in Glen Ellyn.
In 2024, Gov. Pritzker signed Public Act 103-1045, amending the school code to expand the center’s eligibility criteria, allowing administrators to serve students who are deafblind; blind or visually impaired; and deaf or hard of hearing.
The new facility and campus upgrades represent the State of Illinois’ commitment to supporting Philip J. Rock Center and Schools’ mission of empowering the deafblind community—under the motto, “Together for Independence.”
“This building built with love is not just a building—it’s a promise to continue providing the highest care and support in an environment designed to help every student with special needs who lives here thrive,” said Bonnie Jordan, Executive Director of Philip J. Rock Center and School, in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to all who made this vision a reality.”
LCM Architects, the project’s architectural and engineering firm, incorporated colorful metal paneling, stone veneer, and interior aluminum battens on the exterior, and the floor plan symbolizes open arms welcoming staff, students and families into the center. A new covered drop-off canopy with wood slats creates a smooth transition between the exterior and interior, while the two-story social hub and café form the heart of the center. Sculptural open stairs offer a multisensory connection between the first-floor dorms and the second-floor classrooms.
The facility, built in three phases by Path Construction while the existing school remained operational, is targeting USGBC LEED Silver certification. The project also included a number of site improvements, including new electrical systems and utilities, a basketball court, playground, walkways, fencing, landscaping and asphalt pavements, as well as electrical vehicle charging stations.