Group Design Competition for Autism Speaks and Herox with the BAC team Health and Wellness.

1. GALAXY WAY
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY
Residential and Community Center
for
Individuals Who Require 24/7 Support
Dak Kopec
Jon Ehlers
Amela Bejleri
Laura Shrestha

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS:
TAB I: THE DESIGN
INTRODUCTION
THE SITE
OVERALL DESIGN GOALS
DESIGN APPROACH FOR EXTERIOR
LANDSCAPING
LANDSCAPING DESIGN SOLUTIONS
SUSTAINABILITY
DESIGN APPROACH FOR INTERIOR SPACES
HOME DESIGN SOLUTIONS
DESIGN APPRAOCH FOR THE COMMUNTIY CENTER
COMMUNITY CENTER DESIGN SOLUTIONS
UNIQUE FEATURES
TEAM HEALTH AND WELL BEING
TAB II: RESEARCH
RESEARCH
MATERIALS AND FINISHES MATRIX

3. DESIGN

4. 1
INTRODUCTION
This project is the design of a residential community
for high functioning adults diagnosed with ASD,
who require 24/7 support, and have a desire to live
independently. Each home will serve an occupant that
earns between $20,000 and $50,000 annually, and the
homes will come with a Home Personalization Guide
that will assist each resident to identify unique ways to
make it their own.
The project location will be situated within a larger
community setting, and will be exclusive to those
residents who have been diagnosed with ASD. The
goal of this housing model is to generate a pathway
for residents to achieve greater levels of independent
living, and to offer peer-to-peer support that will foster
coping tools to enable better navigation of social norms
while concurrently relieving anxiety that may arise
from living alone.
Funding for the operational costs will come from the
rental income generated from the residents. Additional
funding for support services included with the project
may come through endowments, fundraising, and
other charitable and government subsidies.
PUBLIC
COMMUNITY
RESIDENCE
THE SITE
Included on the site will be three two-level homes
with two bedrooms and one bath, and three one level
homes with one bedroom and one bath. In addition,
the site will contain a community center that will
provide a social space for those seeking interactions;
it will also contain a life skills lab, library, community
space, and a laundry facility.

5. 2
OVERALL DESIGN GOALS
Solve a need for housing and/or services -
Provisions for 24/7 on-site caregiver services by
para-health staff.
Quality of Life - Customized features to
accommodate individual preferences and
health needs.
Learning - Designs that inspire new knowledge
and different ways to understand the world.
Implementable - Real world applications that
can be built.
Affordability - Build and maintained within the
financial constraints of the project’s
administration.
Training - Provisions for a community center
that will provide life skills training along with
other important activities and services.
Sustainable - Designed with optimal, affordable,
and sustainable applications that will lower
future operational costs of the project.
IMAGE A: SITE PLAN (120 x 63 ft.)
IMAGE B: OUTDOOR PATIO

6. 3
DESIGN APPROACH: EXTERIOR
To help facilitate wayfinding and to promote
individuality, a variety of cool calming colors were
selected for the exterior/interior color pallets. The
intention was to tie the outside of the home with
the interior spaces.
To facilitate wayfinding during the evening hours,
the project utilizes a ‘star path’ or‘bioluminescent’
gravel or spray coating applied to the sidewalk (see
image C). This material can be applied to wood as a
varnish paint or other hard surfaces such as a
concrete counter top; added as a separate
aggregate to the concrete mixture. The application
illuminates the surface area with 5,000 lumen’s
(low lighting) of light. This material is ideal for
pathway illumination at night because it reduces
light pollution and light intrusion into interior
spaces which is common with traditional lighting
systems.
To help reduce high levels of peripheral visual
stimulation while outside, a covered trellis system
was placed over the primary pathway (see image
C). This provides the resident with a feeling of
being enclosed while in an outside space. The
trellis is covered with landscaping material that
complements the site’s overall landscape design.
To ensure that the landscaping meets the needs of
residents, specific flora and fauna fell into one of
three categories: hour of the day, seasonal, and
time of year. The goal for the landscaping was to
keep it blooming throughout the year without
much change. The timed blooms that grow along
the trellis have a fairly routine daily and seasonal
schedule which we hope will help the residents
stay in sync with the time of the day.
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
COLOR PALLATE
IMAGE C: BIOLUMINESCENT WALKWAY & TRELLIS
RAIN WATER
STORAGE BARREL

7. 4
LANDSCAPING
The landscape design was based on several
factors that ranged from inadvertent
consumption to the natural growing and
blooming cycle of the plant. In this project
landscape design played an important role
because leaves and flowers follow a
Fibonacci pattern, which has a calming effect
on the viewer.
* 210 plants found that fit these criteria
HOUR OF THE DAY PLANTS PLACED ON & AROUND TRELLIS
SEASONALLY PLANTS TO BE PLACED AROUND RESIDENCES
YEAR ROUND TREES TO BE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE SITE
LANDSCAPING DESIGN SOLUTIONS
1. All foliage must be NON-TOXIC.
2. No thorns, cones, or berries to deter pica.
3. Low maintenance and drought tolerant.

8. 5
Room
Sensory
Bedroom Living Room
CL
Bath
788 S.F. SINGLE LEVEL RESIDENCE
DESIGN APPROACH FOR INTERIOR SPACES
To afford variation in design styles, this project offers one
and two level floor plans. Each floor plan accommodates
different and unique situations beyond specific
accommodations for ASD symptoms. Also included with
each home is a Home Personalization Guide that will help
the occupant develop a design scheme that is unique and
conforms to their personal preferences.
The Home Personalization Guide categorizes materials
and finishes according to cost. This was done to allow the
occupant to make informed choices related to their
budget.
IMAGE D: GREEN ROOFTOP IMAGE E: RESIDENT LIVING ROOM
SUSTAINABILITY
Many sustainable measures that support environmental
conservation and reduce monthly operating expenses
were considered. Some of these measures include
rainwater collection systems to reduce future water bills,
green roofs to assist with insulation and decrease heating
and cooling needs (see image D). This project also
incorporated coffered ceilings, paintable wave paneling
on public walls, and insulation material composed of
recycled paper and blue jeans (see image E) to assist with
insulation and sound transmission.

9. 6
First Floor Second Floor
1,010 S.F. TWO LEVEL RESIDENCE
Each occupant can select a la cart which areas of the
home he or she would like to dedicate more or less of
their budget. Price ranges are clustered according to:
Standard, High End, and Luxury.
Even with maximum freedom in color, texture and
finishes, much of the design selections remained within
the sensory tolerance spectrum common to peo ASD
and known to be stimming triggers (see image G).
Given the sensory sensitivities of the intended
occupant population, special attention was also given
to the selection of low VOC and off-gassing aromas
items (see images E, G and materials list).
IMAGE F: LIMITED WINDOWS IN THE FRONT TO PROTECT
PRIVACY & LMIT VISUAL STIMULATIZATION
IMAGE G: VARIETY OF COLORS, TEXTURES, &
FINISHES

10. 7
IMAGE H: COMMUNITY ROOM
HOME DESIGN SOLUTIONS
1. Wave textures used in the kitchen for a back splash,
and / or in the living room. These panels are paintable
and easily cleaned (see materials and finishes matrix on
page 13).
2. Bioluminescent concrete counter tops to provide
low lighting for those with light sensitivity.
3. Yoga Tablet or Sensory Guru is based on a wall
mountable tablet that can project on to walls or floors.
This lets the user to interact with the image on their
terms, and it includes sensory calming applications.
4. Fiber optic string included within the sensory room
as a calming feature.
5. Black lighting used in the sensory room and other
parts of the home for alternative lighting for those
withlight sensitivity and require lower stimulation
levels.
6. Lutron programmable energy and lighting controls
to increase and decrease lighting and thermal
conditions on a gradual basis and to assist with
circadian rhythms.
7. LED lighting to help reduce issues related to light
8. Blinds between glass, and integrated into the Lutron
system to enhance privacy and control direct sunlight
intrusion. Operation of the blinds are incorporated into
the Lutron system to coincide with the sun’s position.
* For materials and finishes please see the Materials and Finishes
Matrix on page 14.
WAVE WALL TILES BIOLUMINESCENT
COUNTER
YOGA TABLET OR SENSORY GURU
FIBER OPTIC STRING BLACK LIGHTING
LUTRON SYSTEM LED LIGHTING
TRIPLE PANED GLASS WITH BLINDS
sensitivity and seizure disorders.

11. 8
2958 S.F. COMMUNITY CENTER
Second FloorFirst Floor
IMAGE K: COMMUNITY LIBRARY AND COMPUTER LABIMAGE J: SKILLS LAB
DESIGN APPROACH FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER
The community center can be used by the residents
at will and on their own terms. Included within the
community center is a work space for a para-health
professional (see image I) who can assist with the
determent of ‘eloping’ and provide aide during more
severe ‘meltdowns’.
IMAGE I: PARA-HEALTH DESK IN LOBBY

12. 9
COMMUNITY CENTER DESIGN SOLUTIONS
1. Workspace for the 24/7 para-health professional
(see image I).
2. Life Skills lab to teach basic activities of daily
3. Community spaces can be used by the residents
and their families at will.
4. Library and computer room available to the
resident to read or surf the web.
5. Laundry facilities are included for residents and
para-health professional to use at will.
6. The lobby can be used for security to moniter who
enters and exits the community, and to assist with
the determent of ‘eloping’.
7. Floor LED way-finding applications that light up
the carpet for easier wayfinding by the residents.
This system allow for PECS programs to assist those
who may be non-verbal (see image I).
UNIQUE FEATURES
Lighting, texture, and sound were important
considerations within the interior spaces. Notice on
page six that the two bedrooms are buffered by the
placement of the bathroom. Because many people
effected with ASD experience sleep disorders, this
project incorporates a Lutron smart lighting and
temperature system which is programmable and
allows for the lighting and temperature to gradually
lower in order to encourage sleep at night (see page
7). This system can be controlled with a smart phone
or tablet app.
Another unique feature added to this proposal are the
sensory rooms (see image L) which have been shown
to be effective for those who experience stimulation
overload.
IMAGE L: SENSORY ROOM
IMAGE M: TROPHY WALL THAT CAN BE USED
TO MOUNT & DISPLAY COLLECTIBLES
Where possible we
included fibonacci
patterns within the
landscaping, exterior
and interior design
because they have
been shown to
decrease stress and
lower arousal levels.

13. 10
TEAM HEALTH & WELLBEING
Project Leader: Dr. Kopec holds a Ph.D in
Environmental Psychology, master’s degrees in
Architecture and Community Psychology, and a B.S.
in Health Sciences. Dak holds certifications from
the National Commission for Health Education
Credentialing and the National Environmental
Health Association. His publications include journal
articles, monographs and four books. He was also a
Fulbright Specialist and served appointed positions
by the governor of Hawaii and the Council for
International Exchange of Scholars (Fulbright).
Design Researcher: Laura Shrestha holds a
Bachelors Degree in Design Studies in Preservation
and Sustainability Design and is currently a
candidate for the Distance Masters Degree in
Architecture at the Boston Architectural College.
She is a member of Autism Speaks and AIAS. She is
passionate about architecture, science, and
technology. Her current interest lies with creating
architecture that makes more user friendly spaces
and places for those with silent disabilities i.e.
autism, aspergers, dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, dementia,
bi-polar disorder, etc.
Architectural Designer: Jonathan Ehlers is a
candidate for the Distance Masters Degree in
architecture at the Boston Architectural College. He
holds a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Design
and is a member of both the American Planning
Association and the American Institute of
Architects. Jonathan is employeed at Labella
Associates P.C. focusing on the New York State
K-12 Schools and public design projects. He is
passionate about sustainability practices and
finding ways to preserve our environment through
the implementation of biomimicry and technology.
Architectural Designer: Amela Bejleri holds a
Bachelor of Science in Architecture and is currently
a Candidate for the Distance Master’s Degree in
Architecture at the Boston Architectural College.
She is a member of Autism Speaks, BSA, NCARB and
AIA. She is interested in designing spaces for living
well for people of all abilities. Her passions are
architecture, design and technology.

14. 11
RESEARCH

15. 12
SYMPTOM DESIGN IMPLICATION DESIGN SOLUTION
Uncomfortable around others Allow separation, and to be with other but
with high levels of personal spaces.
Allow for individuals to be obscured from others
when in private outdoor spaces and inside
home.
Make sure community spaces are large open
spaces to allow for larger than usual personal
space zones.
Verbal abilities vary Use pictographs using common hand
gestures or symbols.
Red stop sign with a hand held out, palm for-
ward and fingers pointing up to indicate stop.
Literal in their communication Use reflective images to indicate a space
or purpose for the space.
Show representational images of people or
activities instead of nameplates.
Obsessive fascination Include storage/display of collectibles and
include video gamming.
Display area with metal backing and magnets
glues to the backs of license plates. Plates can
then be displayed and rearranged.
Prefer repetitive routines without variation. Make sure the environmental elements
remain stable and consistent as possible.
Use landscaping that will not change much
throughout the year and place area lighting on
timers
Self soothing through rocking and hand
flapping,
Make sure furnishings are soft for hand
flapping, and allow areas for rocking.
Furnishings with padded arms and the inclusion
of a chair that rocks.
Arranging and rearranging objects Allow for elements within the design to
be manipulated.
Metal wall for display of collectables that can be
affixed with a magnet, and rearranged at will.
Hyper sensory perception Decrease sensory stimulation. Decrease color, smell, tactile, and sound con-
trast and variation.
Sleep disorders Lower lighting and temperature incremen-
tally over a span of two hours
Lutron Lighting + Lutron HVAC control with a
programmable time clock function for a 2 hour
fade rate.
Difficulty regulating emotions. Beware of breakable and throwable
objects.
Decrease the amount of glass, use tempered
glass for windows, limit lighting to recessed
canned lighting (no lamps).
Communication through symbolism Use pictographs as means of wayfinding
and delivery of directions.
Each home will be identifiable by an image,
stamped into the sidewalk, and placed on a
plaque by the front door.
Fascination with numbers, symbols, dates or
science topics.
Include equations and symbols where
approapriate.
Include artwork depicting equations and
symbols.
Constipation/diarrhea Quick and easy access to a commode. Arrange furniture for visual and unencumbered
access to commode in the bathroom.
Hyper/hypo sensory stimulation Decrease sensory stimuli by controlling
visual, auditory, tactile, and aromatic
stimuli.
Decrease sound transmission, color contrast,
streaming light entering spaces, aromatic plants
and foliage, limit the use of textures.
Pica (consuming non edible items) Avoid using anything that can come loose
with chronic picking.
No buttons in the furniture, loose carpet fibers,
tassels or strings, or interior plants.
Calming Spaces Small space with decreased sensory
stimuli, and blue lighting.
Include a soundproof low stimulus tiny room for
calming purposes.
Autism Speaks (n.d.). What are The Symptoms of Autism? Retrieved December 12, 2015 from: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/
symptoms.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.). Autism. Retrieved December 12, 2015 from: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Con-
ditions/Autism
WebMD (Last Updated: November 14, 2014). Autism-Symptoms. Retrieved December 12, 2015 from: www.webmd.com/brain/autism/au-
tism-symptoms

16. 13
PRODUCT NAME MATERIAL USES
INTERLOCKING WAVE WALL TILES BY
MODULAR ARTS
Available from:
www.modulararts.com
TILES /BLOCKS KITCHEN BACKSPLASH AND
BATH-ROOMS
LUMINESCENT AGGREGATE BY
AMBIENT GLOW TECHNOLOGY
Available from:
www.ambientglowtechnology.com
STONE AGGREGATE COUNTERTOPS AND/OR
PATHWAY
BIOLUMINESCENT STAR PATH BY
PRO-TEQ
Available from:
www.pro-teqsurfacing.com
SPRAY OUTSIDE CONCRETE PATHWAY,
ON WOOD FINISHES OR OTHER
SOLID SURFACES
UNDERCARPET LIGHTING TILES BY
PHILIPS
Available from:
www.luminous-carpets.com
LED LIGHTING PLACED
UNDER CARPET
WAYFINDING IN COMMUNITY
CENTER
YOGA TABLET BY LENOVO
Available from: http://shop.lenovo.com/
us/en/tablets/lenovo/yoga-tablet-series/
A 3-IN-1 MULTI-MODE
TABLET
USED IN SENSORY ROOM
TOBII BY SENSORY GURU
Available from: www.sensoryguru.com
A 3-IN-1 SCREEN
THAT PROJECTS ON
THE FLOOR, WALL OR
AS AN INTERACTIVE
SCREEN
SENSORY ROOM/PUBLIC
RESIDENT SPACES
FIBER OPTIC LIGHTING STRANDS BY
LUMI WHIP
Available from:
https://funandfunction.com/fiber-optic-
flexible-lights.html
LED FIBER OPTIC
LIGHTS IN PLASTIC
STRANDS
USED IN THE CEILING OF THE
SENSORY ROOM AND ON THE
FLOOR FOR TACTICLE
STIMULATION
BLACK LIGHT BY LEMONBEST
Available from:
www.blacklight.com/items/BLUV5050
LED FLEXIBLE
LIGHTING STRIP
OPTION FOR RESIDENCES WITH
LIGHT SENSITIVE OCCUPANTS
BLUE JEAN INSULATION BY
ULTRATOUCH
Available from:
www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch-
denim-insulation
RECYCLED BLUE JEAN
INSULATION
USED IN ALL WALL CAVATIES FOR
INSULATION AND ADDED SOUND
BARRIER
HOME ENVIRONMENT TOUCH
SCREEN SWITCH BY LUTRON
Available from:
http://gaile.org/rayton/?page_id=95
LED, PLASTIC AND
METAL SWITCH
USED IN ALL UNITS AND IN THE
COMMUNITY CENTER
LED LIGHTING BY SENSIO
Available from:
www.sensioamerica.com/#!lighting/cfvg
LED RECESSED LIGHT
BULBS
LED LIGHTS TO BE USED
THROUGHOUT THE HOMES AND
COMMUNITY CENTER
ENCLOSED HARMONY BLINDS BY
WESTERN REFLECTIONS
Available from:
www.western-reflections.com/
doorglass_blinds.htm
LOW-E GLASS INCLUDED IN GLASS DOORS AND
WINDOWS