Supportive Living Community Opens in Wisconsin for Adults with Autism

Construction is complete at Woodside Prairie in Grafton, Wisconsin. McShane Construction Company built the 32-unit affordable supportive living community for adults with autism on behalf of repeat client Impact Seven.

Designed by New Horizon Ventures, the community offers four buildings with six single-occupant rooms and two townhome buildings with eight townhomes. The six single-occupant rooms are spaciously designed and are each equipped with a private bathroom. Additionally, residents have access to shared facilities, including a full kitchen, dining area, living room and laundry facility. The community also provides ample office space for support staff.

The two townhome buildings offer four units each with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms. Features include a split-level design, attached garages and in-unit laundry. A 3,700-square-foot onsite activity building contains a community kitchen, craft space, computer center and fitness area for all residents to use. Residents can also enjoy a paved walking path.

A third-party consultant was engaged to help select interior finishes conducive to a healthy environment for autistic adults. Specifically, the consultant primarily had feedback for flooring and countertop finish selection. Since research shows highly patterned flooring or counters can be more disruptive to cognitively impaired individuals, the design team selected the simplest patterns possible.

In addition, the project was designed with sustainability in mind to achieve Wisconsin Green Built Homes certification.