Melmark Schoemaker House

residential care home

Berwyn, PA | 9,800 SF

Schoemaker House provides residential care for children with a range of developmental disabilities and behavioral issues. The pre-renovation conditions were utilized by older adults with mental and physical disabilities, so the primary goal of this project was to upgrade the facility to provide an environment more appropriate to a younger, more active and mobile group of residents.

Heckendorn Shiles Architects designed the renovations with the safety and comfort of residents and staff in mind. Common spaces were retrofitted with low-maintenance and highly resilient surfaces. HSA provided extensive code review and coordination, so that direct exit doors from bedrooms were removed and security systems were modified to eliminate the possibility of elopement. Bathrooms were reconfigured to provide for individual use with ample space for staff assistance and oversight. An observation suite was incorporated to provide for individualized therapies and appropriate staff offices.