Homeward Bound: CHOC Children’s Thompson Autism Center
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Homeward Bound: CHOC Children’s Thompson Autism Center
The article explains how the CHOC Children’s Thompson Autism Center in Orange, California, was created to bring autism related diagnosis, treatment, and family support services into one coordinated location. Because many children with autism spectrum disorder also experience other health and developmental challenges, families often have to visit several facilities to receive complete care. The center was designed to solve that problem by functioning as a single medical home where children and families can access a wide range of services more efficiently and with greater continuity of care.
Housed in a renovated two story medical office building near the main CHOC campus, the facility includes therapy spaces, assessment areas, and multidisciplinary exam rooms. The first floor supports services such as behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, care coordination, family consultation, education, and telehealth, while the second floor contains assessment spaces and adaptable clinical rooms. The design also responds to the behavioral and sensory needs of children with autism by providing larger exam rooms, sound controlled areas, and small retreat spaces near waiting zones where children can calm themselves if they feel overwhelmed.
A major focus of the project was creating a welcoming and nonthreatening environment rather than a typical sterile clinical setting. Research informed the design choices, including input from Dr. Shireen Kanakri, whose work helped guide decisions related to color, imagery, and acoustics. As a result, the center uses soft pastel tones, familiar artwork, and calming spatial strategies to reduce stress and support comfort for children who may be especially sensitive to their surroundings. Overall, the project shows how healthcare design can be shaped to better meet the emotional, sensory, and practical needs of children with autism and their families.
