The Villages, Inc. was founded by Dr. Karl Menninger in 1964 with their first home opening in the winter of 1969. Menninger’s strong principles of healing for those who had been abused, neglected, and abandoned, became the foundation and model for The Villages, Inc. This model believed in the benefits that abandoned and abused children would gain by living in a well-maintained home, in a setting with strong, supportive, and nurturing parents who live with them. Currently, The Villages have five homes located on the Topeka campus that children live and study within.
In 2019, the first discussions of consolidating the resident support, administration, and educational services into a new building on the Topeka campus began.
In 2022, construction kicked off on the new building. The building is divided into two distinct wings. The administration wing provides reception, conference space for the administration staff and the Board of Directors, 30 individual offices, break areas, and support spaces.
The educational wing provides six classrooms, staff offices, workspace and break space, and a large multipurpose room providing ample activity and lunchroom space with a full commercial kitchen. A commons area connects the two wings providing gathering and rest space for the occupants.
The new building accommodates new opportunities for the staff and residents alike. We’ve been honored to be a part of the discovery, design, and construction administration process and excited to be a part of their team’s most recent venture. For more information on the Villages, Inc. or to donate to their not-for-profit organization, contact thevillagesinc.org.
