The American School for the Deaf is in preliminary discussions to build two new dormitories on its West Hartford campus that would cater to deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as well as those on the autistic spectrum and with emotional and behavioral issues.
The state Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority announced at its July 20 meeting that the 206-year-old school was planning to borrow $20 million to build the dormitories. M&T/People’s United Bank would be the purchaser of the $20 million direct placement offering. The school is a first-time borrower through the authority, which provides not-for-profit institutions access to low cost debt capital
Jeff Bravin, the school’s executive director since 2014, said the estimated $20 million construction of the two dormitories is part of a master plan that covers the next six years. Part of that plan also includes a brand new museum, Bravin said.
Bravin, who is deaf and spoke through a translator, told the Hartford Business Journal that the project is in the early stages and that the engineering and architectural discussions have yet to take place.
Bravin said the plans are for the new dormitories to meet the needs of the school’s population, including wide open spaces, a sensory room and a lot of visual items.
“Deaf and hard-of-hearing people rely heavily on the visual,” Bravin said. “We will have a lot of technology as part of these buildings. We are focused on the health and safety of our students.”
Bravin said he hopes to break ground in the spring or early summer of 2023 and for occupancy to start sometime in 2024.
“The school has grown over the past several years and we are looking at more growth and enrollment and that would help pay off the debt,” Bravin said.
The school currently enrolls about 150 students on campus; 85 students in its birth-to-three program; about 100 students through its online academy; and 200 students through its outreach services programs. It also has a brand new telehealth services program that caters to 12 students, Bravin said.
There are currently three larger and two smaller dormitories on campus. The campus also includes cottages, Bravin said.
The school has students from about 15 states, primarily in the Northeast and also caters to students from five countries, Bravin said.
Bravin said tuition costs range but begin at $35,000 annually. The state of Connecticut, he said, provides some funding for students.
The 25-members of the school’s Board of Directors still must sign off on the plan.
