Irving Harris '31, who -- with his brother, Neison -- is a chief patron of the Yale Child Study Center's new addition, is shown speaking to the crowd at the Oct. 14 ceremony dedicating the new facility.

Center's addition puts families and
children at heart of Medical School

To accommodate its ever-growing number of programs serving parents and children, the Yale Child Study Center recently expanded in size. The center's new five-story addition -- the Neison and Irving Harris Building -- includes space for research and clinical work with young children, community-based programs and teaching facilities. The facility was officially dedicated on Oct. 14. The octagonal-shaped building occupies an important site at the heart of the School of Medicine complex, says Dr. Donald Cohen, director of the center. "The idea is that medical students will see the Yale Child Study Center and recognize that the child and family is essential to their education, regardless of what field they go into," he says. The project's patrons, Irving Harris '31 and Neison Harris '36, have a longstanding interest in children and families. "This for them was a way of combining their gratitude to Yale with their strong, real commitment for enhancing the lives of children and families, especially those at highest risk," Cohen says. The 21,000-square foot structure fills the space between the I wing of the medical school and the Harkness dormitory, and it attaches to the original building on all five levels as well as to the Child Development Unit (CDU) at ground level. The project included rebuilding one wing of the existing CDU. The first floor in the new building and the CDU houses areas for research and clinical work with young children. Other floors are devoted to activities such as the Comer School Development Program, Child Development and Community Policing, community-based programs for families, studies of vulnerable children and children with neuropsychiatric disorders, international collaborations and policy, and teaching facilities. The new building also has created more space in existing areas for the center's research programs on developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, neuroimaging and outpatient services. There are offices and laboratories on all of the floors except for the second floor, which has a small auditorium outfitted with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. The new connection to the CDU is designed to provide circular circulation throughout the entire ground floor, thereby making it more convenient for staff and visitors. "We wanted a building that would serve as a bridge between the university and the community -- that would welcome the community into the center and provide a focal point for the center's commitment to the children and families of New Haven and the region," Cohen says. "At the same time we wished to enhance the environment for the students and others in the Medical Center with a building that feels distinctive and yet, at the same time, feels like it has always been here." The design architect for the addition was Mark Simon, a partner at Centerbrook Architects in Essex. Centerbrook, which prides itself on its collaborative, participatory approach to design, spent many hours consulting with a committee of 40 Yale faculty, administrators and other employees on how they wanted the building to look and function. "They wanted visual continuity of the buildings on the outside, and yet they wanted this new element to stand out enough to be an identifiable symbol of the center, and it does that," Simon says. "We mimicked the fenestration and brick and moldings, and yet, at the same time, the new composition has modern overtones to it that makes it clear it belongs to no other time but our own. It both fits in and looks ahead." Another consideration, says Simon, was that the building is used not only by children, but also by their concerned parents, as well as academic and other visitors and a range of therapists. "We needed a space that felt comfortable for individuals who are coming for different purposes," he says. "The building needed to have a balanced tone that was at once comfortable, durable and distinguished." Centerbrook studied more than 20 different configurations for the addition and arrived at the notion of the octagon as a possible solution because it let both the new addition and the adjacent buildings see past each other, says Simon. "The octagon provides a distinctive face towards both the community side of the building and the Medical School courtyard," he explains. "Each side is attractive and inviting. It also enhances the appearance of the other buildings and creates, for the first time, a true courtyard for the medical students and faculty." "The octagonal shape also is a memorable, identifiable, iconic shape," Simon adds. "You drive by and say, 'Oh yes. That's the Child Study Center.'" T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S School of Music gets $10 million Yale scientists find way to restimulate brain cell growth Center's addition puts families and children at heart of Medical School Glamour lauds senior for commitment to public education Personalities overshadow issues in politics today, says journalist Divinity School honoring work of feminist theologian Letty Russell Students turn passion for education into teaching careers Retrospective exhibit showcases works of British Pop artist Exhibit of artists' rough drafts for masterpieces explores creative process Peabody exhibit pays tribute to pioneering scientist O.C. 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