Children's Institute Announces Partnership With Frank Gehry To Design New Campus in Watts

LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's Institute, Inc. (CII), a nonprofit organization serving at-risk children, youth and families throughout Los Angeles County, is partnering with world-renowned architect Frank Gehry to design a new, state-of-the-art campus in the Watts community. Once completed, the two-acre campus will enable CII to expand its comprehensive support services to more than 5,000 children and families in the Watts area.

For more than a century, CII has been helping children in communities across Los Angeles County heal from the trauma of family and community violence, and build the confidence and skills necessary to break through the barriers of poverty. Headquartered near downtown Los Angeles, the organization provides services to 22,000 children and families a year, helping prepare young people for success in school, work, and life.

"CII is an incredible organization with a vitally important mission," said Frank Gehry, whose acclaimed design firm is headquartered in Los Angeles. "I am very honored to be a part of this project, which will allow them to expand their reach to even more children and families."

The new Watts campus will be a beacon of hope in the surrounding landscape, providing a safe, welcoming community hub for residents of the area. The facility will be located at 1522 E. 102^nd Street, on the site of CII's current leased facility, and will include rooms for individual and group counseling, indoor and outdoor spaces for afterschool activities, youth development, early childhood education and childcare, as well as expanded areas for family support services and classes. In addition to Gehry Partners, (fer) Studio will be serving as the executive architect and the project will be managed by Square One. Mr. Gehry will be contributing his design services to CII at no cost.

"We are extremely excited to be partnering with Frank Gehry and Gehry Partners to bring this much-needed resource to the Watts community," said Children's Institute President & CEO Mary Emmons. "We have provided critical social services from leased facilities in Watts for the past seven years, and we've been active in the area for much longer. The opportunity to expand and build upon the work we've accomplished there is one of our main areas of focus. We are committed to the children and families of Watts."  

CII is actively engaged in a fundraising campaign, with outstanding early results. Major commitments include: The Colleagues, The Eisner Foundation, The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation, The L.A. Galaxy Foundation, The Otis Booth Foundation, and Philanthropic Society of Los Angeles (PSLA).

"We are receiving enthusiastic responses because of the significant need we're addressing in Watts as well as the bold vision for the facility that Mr. Gehry will be instrumental in helping us achieve," said Charles Diamond, Chairman of CII's Board of Trustees.

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SOURCE Children’s Institute, Inc.