Jackson County CASA

In 2020 CASA purchased the building next door to their facility. JE Dunn worked closely with CASA to connect the two buildings through new construction of approximately 1,500 square feet, and complete a renovation on the full building to make the space accessible, energy efficient, and child-friendly. With this expansion, CASA doubled its physical plant and now has the capacity to go from serving 1,250 children to 1,500 children.

Features of the Project

• Individual heating/cooling units in every office, meeting room and hallway of the building in order to make the staff and children we serve comfortable. This was important to the project as we were updating two 100+ year old facilities into an efficient office building.
• Retention of the historical details such as crown molding, wood trim, fire places, etcetera by JE Dunn staff.
• New wiring and data systems throughout, two new digital conference room spaces for hybrid virtual/in-person meetings.
• A dedicated space for older foster youth designed to support them as they age out of care with a workstation to apply for jobs, complete financial aid paperwork, etc., a kitchenette to make a snack or meal, and a shower and laundry facility for emergency use.
• A dedicated training and resource room for Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer training sessions complete with materials for volunteers to take on visits to see the children and families served.
• Most importantly, the building went from being inaccessible to individuals with disabilities to completely accessible with a ramped entrance, an elevators, ADA compliant restrooms, and more.