Rich Center for Autism renovations celebrated

YOUNGSTOWN -- A two-phase renovation project began two years at The Paul and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism.

The project was to ensure that the demand of the Rich Center's resources, support services and specialized education will continue to be met.

A celebration of Phase II of the basement renovations took place Thursday at Fedor Hall at Youngstown State University.

"As autism prevalence continues to increase -- with the CDC now estimating that approximately 1 in 31 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder -- the demand for high-quality services, research, and professional preparation continues to grow," said Michael J. Latessa, executive director of the Rich Center.

The basement renovation was quite familiar to Latessa.

"In the spring of 2007 there were hundreds of applicants for the position of associate director of development here at the Rich Center for Autism," he said.

"I made it to the second round. The people on the committee told me, 'We need you to do a project to prove to us what you can do. We have this basement space that we want to turn into a professional development center. Put it together as if you are presenting it to President Jim Tressel,' at the time. So, I've been working on this basement project before I was an employee."

The six-month project began in May and will be completed this month.

Latessa explained that the Phase I renovation was much more involved.

"Phase II was a significantly shorter project than Phase I. Phase I was a yearlong renovation that included major infrastructure improvements such as a new roof, an ADA-compliant elevator, an independent living lab, a gross motor sensory lab, renovated corridors, new flooring, and upgraded lighting throughout much of the facility," he said. "Because of the scope of that work, the Rich Center temporarily relocated to two different locations on Youngstown State University's campus to ensure uninterrupted services for our students."

The basement renovation was much less disruptive to the daily operation of the center for staff and students.

"Phase II focused on completing the lower-level renovation and allowed us to remain in our building throughout construction," Latessa said. "Thanks to careful planning by Youngstown State University and our project partners, programming continued with minimal disruption to our students and families."

Some of the renovations to the basement included a multi-purpose space, which can be one or two rooms, additional storage and classrooms.

Phyllis Ricchiuti, one of the founders of The Rich Center for Autism and the emcee for the ceremony, envisions numerous possibilities for the renovated space.

"We can hold our spring dance here, now for students instead of having them go to another site," she said. "We can use this space for parent meetings and hopefully we can open the space to the community to use in the future."

Latessa mentioned additional opportunities for the renovated basement.

"The renovation gives us the flexibility to explore future opportunities identified through our strategic planning process, including expanded early childhood programming, enhanced university partnerships, additional experiential learning opportunities for YSU students, and innovative community engagement initiatives," he said. "The completion of Phase II positions the Rich Center to thoughtfully explore opportunities that simply weren't possible with our previous space configuration."

YSU President Bill Johnson was on hand for the ceremony.

"It's about more than simply a renovated space. It's about what happens when a university and a community come together with a shared focus," Johnson said. "It's about investing in children, supporting families, preparing our students and creating opportunities so they will have an impact throughout the Mahoning Valley for years to come."

State Representatives Lauren McNally (D-58th District), Matt Kishman (R-50th District) and Dave Thomas (R-65th District) presented a certificate to Latessa commemorating the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Phase II renovations.