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Directions for Youth and Families Selects DesignGroup to Design Crittenton Center Expansion

Directions for Youth and Families Selects DesignGroup to Design Crittenton Center Expansion

The building will reflect DFYF’s dedication to a sustainable future for families and neighborhoods

COLUMBUS, OH—Directions for Youth and Families (DFYF) has selected DesignGroup, Columbus, Ohio, to expand their Crittenton Center Campus in Columbus. A new, more than 20,000-square-foot building will be the centerpiece of the three-acre campus located on Kimberly Parkway. The building — in both its design and function — will reflect DFYF’s dedication to building healthy individuals, strong families and safe communities.

“This expansion is an important statement about who we are and what we do for the community,” said Duane Casares, CEO of DFYF. “Our campus is a place where families and the community come together to learn, grow and thrive. And we feel that DesignGroup can help us express that through architecture.”

The building seeks to be a hub for the community with flexible spaces to meet many community needs and a variety of programming.

In addition to traditional counseling and case management services, DFYF will offer an after-school program, modeled after its successful program offered at its Ohio Avenue Youth Center. The site will include a computer lab, homework help, leadership development, life skills, art, dance, music, fitness and recreation.

Offerings for adults will include a gender responsive center, housing stabilization services, farmers market, community garden, family-focused activities, community concerts and community walks/patrols.

“We’re excited to work with DFYF to create a space that is representative of the community it serves,” said Nikki Wildman, associate principal and project manager at DesignGroup. “So many of their goals with this project are goals we share—building sustainable spaces that are welcoming, inclusive and inspiring.”

DFYF offers a one-of-a-kind workforce development program, and that dedication to better futures will be reflected in the space and appearance of the new building.

“We work to ensure parents and adults living in the community become strong, contributing members of the Central Ohio workforce,” Casares said. “Our new building will aid us in our goals to build a stronger community.”

The $5.4 million project is funded through an on-going capital campaign and state funding. It is slated for completion in April 2023.