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Mt. Hermon, VA: Ribbon cutting on 96 bed autism residence, school

Jan 13, 2024, Danville (VA) Register and Bee: Hughes Center cuts ribbon on new facility https://godanriver.com/news/community/hughes-center-cuts-ribbon-on-new-facility/article_563a2206-b0b5-11ee-8712-4fd0665063d2.html

The Hughes Center, which treats children with autism and intellectual disabilities, celebrated the completion of its newly built facility Thursday in Mount Hermon.

The $38 million project broke ground in April 2022 and was finished this month. It includes a 70,000-square-foot learning and residential care center with an additional 32 beds for its residents, for a total of 96 beds.

"What has been created here is an amazing state-of-the-art, 96-bed facility serving children and adolescents struggling with autism and intellectual disabilities throughout the commonwealth and nationally,” Hughes Center CEO Mark Howard said during remarks at the event. “The Hughes Center has a long history of serving children.”

Nearly a century old, the center originally was an orphanage and has been providing its current residential mental-health treatment to children since 2006.

The new facility features classrooms and other types of rooms with sensory tools to address its residents’ special needs. The building has 14 sensory rooms and five exploratory rooms, including an art room, a study, a music room, a gaming room and an indoor space for physical activities….

“Our plan is to move them in in the next two to three weeks,” Alison Waymouth, director of business development at the Hughes Center, told the Register & Bee.

During the ceremony, officials pointed out the vital role the facility plays in Danville and Pittsylvania County.

“Today marks a significant step forward as the doors are officially opened, not just as a facility, but as a vibrant community presence and a hub for partnerships,” said Anne Moore-Sparks, president and CEO of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. “The Hughes Center is more than just a building, it’s a symbol of commitment to all who call this building home.”

Mike Lyons, vice president for specialty education with Universal Health Services (the Hughes Center’s parent company), said of the new facility, “It’s going to bring a tremendous amount and an abundance of joy for so many. …

Darrell Dalton, chair of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, said the new facility will allow “this century-old institution to serve more young people, not only from this region throughout Virginia, but across the country.”...

Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones said of the project, “The completion of this beautiful new facility serves as a symbol of hope for those children and adolescents that are important, and people are about them tremendously. Also, the completion of this new facility serves as a symbol of hope for parents and families, that their children are residing in a modern facility with the very best resources and support available.”


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