Construction begins on $3.6M renovation of Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky

Should be completed in time for school year

COVINGTON, Ky.  (July 29, 2014) — Paul Hemmer Company has begun extensive renovation of one of the region’s most notable structures — the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky’s administration building, perched high atop a hillside in Covington’s Devou Park. Built 90 years ago, the building was designed by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the architect firm known for such regional landmarks as Music Hall, Cincinnati City Hall and Cincinnati Observatory. The $3.6 million project includes complete renovation and construction of new interior facilities and capabilities within the historic building, while preserving the its valuable historic character.

The renovation involves many facets. The lower level and first floor will be renovated to accommodate a Therapeutic Day School, a new joint venture between Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky (CHNK) and Covington Independent Public Schools that will allow for traditional academic services to be married with behavioral/ mental health treatment for adolescents.

Hemmer will build state-of-the-art classrooms, a computer lab, and student learning kitchen for the day school. It will renovate the second floor to house CHNK’s administrative offices. The third floor — which was originally used as a nursery and later, as a storage area — will be transformed into a training and events center. The building’s systems will be replaced. The structure will be made ADA-compliant for the first time in its history. A fire suppression system is being added throughout the building, as well as an elevator servicing all four floors of the building, wheelchair-accessible ramps, and ADA-compliant restrooms. Paul Hemmer Company is managing all of the renovations.

Renovation work relevant to the therapeutic day school should be completed in time for the beginning of the 2014-2015 academic year, with upper floors being completed in later months. Throughout the process, CHNK’s clinical and administrative employees are working from other buildings on the Home’s two campuses.