The Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports (FJCDS) is a non-profit that works with Johnson County to provide an affordable housing solution for adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization’s homes are typically three of four bedroom homes that were purchased and renovated to house their client-tenants in a co-living situation, where living spaces are shared. The homes allow their occupants to form and sustain beneficial social bonds, while also giving county staff the ability to provide services in a home setting that can be minimized, depending on client needs. Prior to the project, FJCDS’ homes were all existing homes that the organization purchased and renovated. As the cost of existing homes in the area has escalated steeply, FJCDS decided to purchase a vacant lot and build on it. FJCDS approached the studio to develop designs for 3-bed, 2-bath units for three different sites in Merriam and Overland Park, KS. One site would be a new detached home. Another site would add an ADU to an existing house, replacing a garage. A third site was in a mixed use district and would be a multi-unit development that FJCDS envisioned would also offer short term housing with a local domestic abuse shelter. The projects would be designed around a small footprint and net zero performance, but would also need to meet criteria for universal access and in-home care needs without being fully ADA-compliant.

Process. There were 17 students in the studio. Students began the project meeting with FJCDS’ staff to learn about the organization’s mission and operations, and then visited three homes to see how they have been adapted to the needs of residents. Students then proceeded with bioclimatic and neighborhood analysis for the three sites, dividing into teams. Working individually through schematic design and design development, students completing their designs by week 13. FJCDS selected a project for each of the three sites to begin CDs and complete a cost estimating exercise.

At the end of the semester, for the final two weeks the three teams started central Revit models for the selected projects and began work on a CD set. After acquiring the lot incorporated by students working on detached designs, FJCDS decided to move forward with the project created by Lizzy Brown, titled “Restoration.” The final CDs were made by student Cailan Steward.

Restoration: Final Design for FJCDS

Some of the additional designs that students developed during the semester are linked below.

Students: Madeline Wohletz, Levi Lindsay, Jared Probasco, Vittoria Polanowski, Ian McCready, Jacob Mccubbin, Ken Akimoto, Christina Mackenzie, Nathaniel Sisco, Ashlee Fish, Reed Nolte, Connor Crist, Avery Neer, Elizabeth Brown, Kyle Milstead, Cailan Steward, Shelby Thornton