Chicago Construction News staff writer
State and local officials joined project partners this week to mark completion of a new $21.5-million residential and education facility at the Philip J. Rock Center and School — a specialized campus designed for deaf-blind students and believed to be the only publicly funded school of its kind in the U.S.
The two-storey, 24,173-sq.-ft. building was approved through the Rebuild Illinois capital program and consolidates student housing, classrooms and support areas into a single structure. It includes dormitory rooms, sensory-supportive learning spaces, activity rooms and a two-storey social hub, along with upgraded electrical and utility systems, landscaping, EV chargers, walkways, and outdoor recreation areas.
LCM Architects led the design, incorporating colourful metal panels, stone veneer and interior wood accents. The layout was planned to create a sensory-inclusive environment, with an open-arms configuration, sculptural stairs connecting residential and academic wings, and a covered wood-slat entry canopy.
Path Construction served as general contractor and coordinated more than 48 subcontractors, vendors and suppliers. Phase one involved more than 51,000 labour hours, 2,350 tonnes of imported stone, and 1,390 cubic yards of concrete for foundations, slabs and site structures, according to project partners.
“This project was a critical investment in inclusion, accessibility and opportunity,” said TJ Edwards, executive director of the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB). “CDB worked closely with our design and construction partners to deliver a facility where students have the resources they need to thrive.”
The centre first opened in 1978 in response to increased demand for specialized services for children born deaf-blind following the rubella epidemic. It moved to its Glen Ellyn hilltop campus as demand grew. In 2024, the state expanded eligibility criteria to serve students who are deaf-blind, visually impaired, or deaf and hard-of-hearing.
A second construction phase is already scheduled. The former school building will be demolished and replaced with an adaptive sensory playground designed for therapeutic engagement and exploration. Completion is expected in spring 2026, with the Illinois Capital Development Board overseeing the work.
The centre’s motto — “Together for Independence” — reflects its mission to provide supportive residential and learning environments for students with unique sensory needs.
