BUILDING THE FUTURE
It’s about so much more than just a building.
It’s about what’s going to happen in that building.
In September 2019, Bridgeway Academy acquired a facility that, when completely transformed, will fully meet the needs of our organization and the community we serve.
Our future home is located centrally in Columbus, at 1350 Alum Creek Drive, and is easily accessible from Interstate 70 E/W. The facility is 115,000 square feet, and set on a 23-acre property, is ADA accessible, and has plenty of parking. Built in the 1970’s, it was originally constructed as an educational facility, housing DeVry University and Chamberlain University College of Nursing.
This facility will allow us to unite our programs and our families onto one campus and broaden our services to meet a deep community need. The goal is to renovate and furnish the building based on a unique design that best serves children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Why do we need to BuildBridgeway?
Meet deep community need.
Families need us now more than ever.
Autism prevalence has increased dramatically over the last 15 years, from 1 in 110 children in 2005 to 1 in 54 children today. Bridgeway Academy maintains a waiting list for our Education and Therapy Centers. With more space, we can ensure more children are set up to succeed, and more families are supported.
Create strategic partnerships.
We can’t do it alone.
To make our new facility even more impactful for families, Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) will occupy the building’s lower level. CELC brings 130+ years of experience serving the youngest members of our community. Plus, our closer proximity to our Community-Based Job Training worksite partners will help more students have access to real-world vocational experiences.
Broaden our programs.
The needs of our students and clients keep growing.
In 2005, we were serving just 12 Preschoolers and Kindergartners. Today we offer so much more. In this new space, we’ll have the room to serve all our students and clients. Things like a full-service kitchen, furnishings for the life skills center, and integrated technologies - to be used in classrooms and in the AAC Evaluation Center - will help us meet the needs of every child.
Unite our facilities onto one campus.
We’re at our best when we are together.
Bridgeway Academy’s unique model provides education and therapies in one place. Our experts can provide a consistent approach so parents know their child is getting the support they need. In one building, our staff will be able to increase collaboration, save time spent in transit, and offer more opportunities for learning.
Our students, clients, and staff deserve a state-of-the-art facility where everyone is set up to succeed.
The smiles, the joy, and the pride for our children inspires us to bring this project to fruition
We are not an institution — we teach and learn much like a traditional school program.
Bridgeway Academy provides a warm, inviting, and joyful setting for learning. Our first priority is to create a facility with our signature culture of love, care, and respect that removes barriers to learning, therapeutic treatment and intervention, and development.
Renderings provided by AECOM.
Through intentional design, we will prepare students for the world ahead.
Our design will be cutting-edge. Bridgeway Academy is blazing the trail to change the way we serve children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Through our innovative design, we are choreographing the ideal experience for children and families. Whether it be a transition to their home district or a future vocation — they’ll be ready.
We’ve prioritized the need for physical spaces:
Classrooms
Flexible spaces, integrated technology, proximity and access to therapy and sensory spaces, access to natural light, and easier access to bathrooms.
Common Areas
All spaces to be as flexible and adaptable as possible, multiple indoor recess/play areas, contained and age appropriate outdoor play and gardening areas, and access to natural light.
Therapy Spaces
Separate entrances, age appropriate and flexible equipment, sensory spaces located in close proximity, and multi-use space for parents to utilize while they wait.
Sensory Spaces & Pathways
A series of rooms and unique pathways where students and clients can seek out different experiences for different sensory needs.
There’s so much more to share.
You can learn more in-depth about the BuildBridgeway Campaign, our history, our need, and how you can make an impact.
There’s a place for you in our campaign.
We know these are uncertain times. Flexible payment options are available for everyone who wishes to give to the BuildBridgeway Campaign.
There’s someone to help.
Ready to make a pledge? Have more questions? Reach out to our Director of Advancement, Carol Argiro at (614) 262-7520 or via email at cargiro@bridgewayohio.org, or any of our campaign staff members.
There’s a way to make your gift uniquely stand out.
A new facility brings new opportunities for recognition. Whether it’s a family gift or a memorial gift, we want to make sure you’ll see the impact your gift will make on our organization.
The COVID-19 health crisis has challenged our plans.
But, our board and organizational leadership persist. As a result, and in an effort to be nimble and responsive to the community, Bridgeway Academy has re-framed our project into phases.
Phase 1, budgeted at $1.2M, will allow us to safely occupy the building, and increase our ability to serve more children and families.
Our goal is to have Phase 1 completed by January 2021. Your support will help us reach this goal.
How we’re doing.
Thank you to all of our individual and corporate donors. With additional support from the State of Ohio Capital Appropriations Budget, Phase 1 of the BuildBridgeway Campaign is complete!
We will be continuing to raise funds for Bridgeway Academy’s mission and our new home - stay tuned for updates.
Progress as of January 1, 2021:
$ 1,200,000 Phase 1 Goal
$ 1,869,411 Gifts So Far
We sincerely thank our Acquisition Campaign donors who made philanthropic gifts of over $760,000 in 2019 to help us acquire the property that will become our new home.
Campaign Progress
Thank you to the State of Ohio Capital Appropriations Budget, which allocated $1,000,000 to Bridgeway Academy! A portion of these dollars will be dedicated to CELC’s new center in the lower level of our new home. Check back as we roll out Phase 2 of the Campaign in the coming months!
