The two-story, 36,300-square-foot state-of-the-art building is expected to be completed in fall 2025
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2024 — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington will break ground on the Conway Education Center at a ceremony on Oct. 2.
The education center, which will be built on Buchanan Street NE in D.C.’s Ward 5, will house the Kennedy School for children and young adults with developmental differences, and the Child Development Center. Both currently operate in a 1950s-era building on the property.
Designed by A Complete Unknown Architects, the education center will be ADA compliant and a safe and welcoming environment for children and young adults. A U-shaped design will surround a courtyard that will provide a safe and shaded space for children to play and learn. Inside, there will be space for learning life skills. A ramp rather than an elevator will allow students of all abilities to easily circulate through the building.
The $24.1 million project is made possible in part by a generous $5 million donation from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF established by Bill Conway. The remainder of the permanent funding comes from other generous donors, the sale of 4.7 acres of school property and the sale of other properties whose uses are no longer consistent with the agency’s mission.
What: Conway Education Center groundbreaking ceremony
When: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024
Where: 801 Buchanan St. NE, Washington, DC 20017
Program: A short program will feature remarks by Jim Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities; Bill Conway of the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF; Matthew Putu, executive director of Catholic Charities’ Developmental Disabilities Services; David DiLuigi, chair, Catholic Charities Board of Directors; Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory; and a school family representative. The program will also include a performance from school students.
Details: The non-public day school serves children and young adults, ages 6 to 22, with emotional and intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. The child development center serves children of all abilities ages 6 weeks to 3 years.
The existing school and the child development center will remain open during construction. After the education center is built, the Kennedy School and Child Development Center will transition into the Conway Education Center. The previous school building will be demolished, and a townhome community will be developed by The Concordia Group LLC.
Media: The groundbreaking ceremony is open to media coverage. For additional information, contact Alexandra Porben of Catholic Charities’ communications department at Alexandra.Porben@cc-dc.org or 202-772-4379. A media kit is available in our press room.
About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Catholic Charities DC is the largest independent social services agency in the Metropolitan D.C. area. As the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic Charities DC invests in communities by providing critical services to hundreds of thousands of people in need throughout the District of Columbia and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland. The organization works tirelessly to give help that empowers and hope that lasts to those it serves regardless of background, belief, or circumstance. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesdc.org and follow us on social media @CCADW.