SKILD Center

The introduction of a special education program at Beirut Baptist School (BBS) served as the spark for the creation of SKILD. Working with children who had special needs at BBS made it clear to all involved that more assessment and supportive services were needed, not just to help individual students but also to help teachers and students' families and, in the end, improve the lives of all students in Lebanon. This insight paved the way for the establishment of SKILD and fueled the founding members' desire to take action to improve the situation of special needs children in Lebanon.

The Services offered by SKILD (featured building) at the LSESD campus in Mansourieh since March 2011 include psychomotor therapy, speech therapy, special education and psychotherapy. SKILD staff also work regularly in five Beirut schools providing services to over 200 children. SKILD hosts day camps for special needs students each summer which include fun outings as well as therapy sessions.

EMI provided a conceptual and schematic architectural design for this new building with consideration for the integration of the site and building utilities as it was part of a masterplan designed earlier. The team was able to review the existing Master Plan and all available site drawings and collaborate with Client leadership to develop programming and design solutions.