Conway Education Center

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The newly opened facility will host our school for children and young adults with developmental differences and our Child Development Center

About the Education Center

The two-story, 36,300-square-foot building will be located on two acres on the south side of Buchanan Street NE in the District of Columbia. The facility will be ADA compliant, provide a safe and secure environment, and promote the overall well-being of young people.

The building will serve up to 50 students in the school. The Child Development Center will also accommodate up to 50 children.

For more than 65 years, Catholic Charities DC’s Kennedy School served as the home for thousands of children and young adults with disabilities. The new Conway Education Center will honor this legacy by continuing to serve students with autism, intellectual disabilities, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. Small, team-based classes include no more than seven students and at least three staff members. By providing holistic support through counseling, academic intervention in reading and math, vocational internships, and physical education, students are prepared for a robust learning experience.

Photo gallery: See the Conway Education Center take shape.

Contact Information

801 Buchanan Street NE, Washington, DC 20017
202-281-2700

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Questions and Answers

The building that currently houses the school and Child Development Center was built as a high school in the late 1950s. It no longer meets the modern-day needs of children and families.

During an extensive research period, the architectural firm of A Complete Unknown talked with school and child development center administrators, facilities staff, teachers and counselors about their vision for the school.

“A great building is not just created by the efforts of the architect and engineers but by the dedication and encouragement that comes from the client,” said Suman Song, founder of A Complete Unknown. “The staff and the faculty have been very engaging, and it has been a joy working on this project.”

Their input led to these unique features:

A ramp connecting the building’s two floors rather than an elevator. The ramp will allow students of all abilities to easily circulate through the building, and it will serve as a social space for interaction.
A kitchen in the dining space. Because the school teaches life skills in addition to the traditional language, science and math curriculum, a kitchen will be available for students to learn how to prepare simple meals.
A U shape. The building will be made up of small sections or modules that are strung together like a pearl necklace. A central courtyard will provide a safe place for play and educational activities. The modules are similar in size and shape to other buildings in the northeast D.C. neighborhood, ensuring the school building fits well into the neighborhood.

The center also will have an outdoor classroom with amphitheater seating, an outdoor play area, garden, dining terrace and physical education space.

A generous donation of $5 million from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, established by Bill Conway, made the project possible. The remainder of the permanent funding comes from other generous donors, the sale of a portion of the Buchanan Street property and the sale of other properties whose uses are no longer consistent with the agency’s mission.

These organizations are playing pivotal roles in this innovative project:

Arborist: Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Architect: A Complete Unknown
Civil Engineer: Clark Azar & Associates, Inc.
Construction Financing: United Bank
Contract Attorney: Holland & Knight LLP
Dry Utility Consultant: Richter & Associates
General Contractor: Coakley & Williams Construction
Geotechnical Engineer: ECS Capitol Services, PLLC
Landscape Architect: Bradley Site Design
MEP Engineer: Global Engineering Solutions
Permit Expediting Services: Owens Technologies, Inc.
Project Management: Capital Projects Management Firm
Roadway Civil Engineer: VIKA Capitol, LLC
Structural Engineer: Silman
Traffic Consultant: Wells & Associates
Zoning Attorney: Holland & Knight, LLP

Our School and Child Development Center

An architectural rendering shows the new Conway Education Center.

The current school and Child Development Center have been located in a former high school built in the 1950s. The building no longer meets children’s needs.

The current school is located on Buchanan Street NE in D.C.’s Ward 5. The new education center will be built on two acres of the property.

The playground at the existing school shows its age. The new school will feature an enhanced playground and outside space for learning.

A Kennedy School student colored an image of the new education center.

Two school students graduated with a certificate of completion in spring 2024.

There was plenty for the children to explore and experience at the Child Development Center’s 2024 field day.

A staff member and student play chess at the 2024 Valentine’s Day party.

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