Lifetime Assistance, an industry leader in providing comprehensive developmental disability services for children and adults in Greater Rochester celebrated the opening today of the newly expanded and renovated Lowry Day Services Center.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, hundreds of donors who made the new building possible were honored, including the Golisano Foundation, which made a $750,000 matching gift toward the $5.1 million Independence Together campaign.

Day Services provide essential support, care, clinical and educational services, and enrichment for people with developmental disabilities.

The Lowry Center is located in Clarkson and is the first of three-day services centers being transformed to change how services and supports are provided to hundreds of people with developmental disabilities who rely on the centers daily. Lifetime broke ground on the Lowry Center expansion nine months ago on August 18, 2021. The 6,800-square-foot addition and interior renovation cost $2.7 million.

“We are extremely grateful to each and every person in our caring community who has helped make today’s celebration possible,” said Bryan O’Donovan, Lifetime Assistance CEO. “The transformation of Day Services has been driven by the significant changing needs of the people we support with developmental disabilities. Those changes include an aging population and a growing number of people being supported who have dementia, severe autism, and complex medical and mobility needs. Our goal is to help people maximize their abilities and attain as much independence as possible. The enhancements we have made in this renovation are improving people’s quality of life and their ability to engage in life-enriching activities, and develop skills to participate more fully in the community.”

Ann Costello, Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation, said, “Lifetime Assistance is taking Day Services to a whole new level with the design of this new space. It is wonderful to see the new opportunities people now have for more mobility, socialization, and inclusive activities that are allowing their talents and abilities to shine. The Foundation is proud to be able to help make this beautiful and accessible new environment possible for so many who depend on these critical services.”

The 6,800-square-foot Lowry Center addition:

• Increases the Center’s space by nearly 50%
• Features an enclosed open atrium, an accessible courtyard, and space for more community activities.

Extensive renovations to the existing 14,407-square-foot existing building include:

• Seven Learning & Work Suites – culinary, senior, technology, health and wellness, continuing education/vocational, music and arts, and enrichment to replace outdated classrooms
• Advanced assistive technologies to increase engagement, communication, and mobility
• State-of-the-art technology to expand vocational interests and abilities
• Continuing education to increase community integration, participation, and employment
• Increased opportunities for people with high medical needs, to contribute to the community and gain work skills
• A warm, tranquil environment that maximizes learning, skill development and enhances community involvement
• A new fully accessible welcome area with natural lighting, expanded entryways, and alternate entrances to maximize accessibility and, safety
• New HVAC, improved security, and additional parking.

The next Lifetime Day Services Center being transformed is on Paul Road in Chili. A wall-breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction will be held on August 15, 2022.

The Center on Weiland Road in Greece will follow. Construction is being staged to assure no gaps in services. The renovations will include seven new Learning & Work Suites – providing life skills training, job readiness, community-based vocational and volunteer services, clinical, nursing, and behavioral services, and occupational and physical therapy – all in comforting and motivating environments to meet rapidly changing service needs.

SWBR is the project architect, Hamilton-Stern is the Construction Manager/Contractor, and Marathon and Mechanical/Electrical Engineering are project engineers.