FAVA School for Children with Autism

The diverse demands of urban populations are often ignored by homogeneous architecture and design strategies. The Fundación Autismo en Voz Alta (FAVA) is the only organization of its kind in Caracas, providing educational opportunities for autistic children from pre-school to upper-elementary ages. When the foundation decided to shift its headquarters and develop a new campus, they hired U-TT to design a building that would respond to the special needs of students.

Working in close consultation with the foundation’s expert psychologists, U-TT conceived of several architectural solutions, most notably a circulatory ramp that wraps around the perimeter of the building and provides a safe pathway for children uncomfortable using stairs. The ramp design also allowed U-TT to build vertically and maintain a small footprint on the site, saving green space for a park.