Project Size: <3,000 sq. ft.
Location: Elgin, IL
Design: Forward Space Studio
Services: ADA Design, Furniture selection, Finish Specification, Seating Demos, Sound Masking, Procurement, Project Management, Installation
Elgin Community College (ECC) developed a dedicated Student Access + Disability Service Center to better support a growing neurodivergent population on campus. As understanding of neurodiversity increases, the number of students self-identifying as neurodiverse at ECC has more than tripled in the past two years—reinforcing the need for environments that reduce barriers and support a range of learning, sensory, and engagement needs.
Forward Space partnered with ECC throughout planning and delivery, working closely with the Dean and campus leadership to translate research, lived experience, and institutional priorities into a functional, supportive environment. Planning stayed focused on practical outcomes—how students move through the space and how environmental decisions can either support or hinder focus and comfort.
Project goals centered on clarity, flexibility, and dignity. Private offices support confidential conversations; while tutoring and testing rooms provide adaptable spaces for students and proctors. Height-adjustable desks and flexible monitor arms accommodate varied postures and screen preferences, and a calm color palette was selected to limit distraction and support focus.
Sensory considerations were integrated throughout. Acoustic elements help manage sound, lighting strategies allow for individual adjustment, and flooring transitions and high-contrast baseboards support spatial awareness and wayfinding. Seating options—including chairs with and without arms—offer choice without drawing attention to difference.
The waiting area accommodates movement aids and varied seating positions. Swivel seating supports students who benefit from motion, and the Lagunitas lounge adds posture flexibility within a limited footprint. The completed center supports ECC’s commitment to equitable access and student success by prioritizing choice, comfort, and clarity for both students and faculty.