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. | Photo Credit (all): KSS Architects
What You Need to Know
- Elwyn held a groundbreaking Feb. 6 for a new school on its Media, Pa., campus as part of its master campus plan.
- The facility is expected to be completed in August 2027, with plans to welcome students in fall 2027.
- Elwyn said the school will support two curriculum tracks, including programming for students with complex behavioral needs and for students working toward greater independence.
- Elwyn has allocated $45 million for construction and design, with financing provided by KeyBank.
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MEDIA, Pa. — Elwyn, a nonprofit human services organization, has launched construction on a new school intended to reshape the organization’s educational and therapeutic space for children with disabilities.
The organization marked the start of work Feb. 6 with a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by elected officials, community partners, staff and students.
The project marks a milestone in Elwyn’s master campus plan, with the organization approaching its 175th anniversary next year.
“As we look ahead to our 175th anniversary, it’s thrilling to break ground on the New Elwyn School,” said Charles S. McLister, Elwyn president and CEO, according to an article from Elwyn. “This 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.”
KSS Architects, a full-service architecture, planning, and interior design firm, is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of the new Elwyn School, a $45 million, 80,000-square-foot PreK–12 facility located at the heart of Elwyn’s 260-acre historic campus in Media, Pennsylvania. The new school is the first phase of Elwyn’s $100 million redevelopment plans for the campus.
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.
“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 Mayva Donnon, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Partner at KSS Architects. “Every design decision is rooted in how the space 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.”
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.
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.
Elwyn has allocated $45 million for the new school’s construction and design, with KeyBank providing financing. Elwyn also identified Haverford Development Partners as development and construction partner, with Haverford and North Star Construction slated to build the school. The building is anticipated to be completed in August 2027, with plans to welcome students in fall 2027.
This article is based on reporting originally published by Elwyn on Feb. 6, 2026.