The facility replaces the nonprofit's previous five-bed residential home with a purpose-built campus on a 17-acre wooded property donated by a local family. The expanded campus reflects the growing need for specialized residential treatment programs that provide a safe environment where young people can begin the long process of recovery.

Residents typically stay between 12 and 15 months and have access to individual and group counseling, an in-house education program, recreation spaces and sensory integration services. The building also includes executive offices, a commercial kitchen, a nurses' station and dedicated therapy rooms designed to support both residents and staff.

For KAI, the project centered on creating more than a functional healthcare facility. The design team focused on delivering a residential environment that feels welcoming, comfortable and secure.

Rather than relying on institutional finishes, the building incorporates rustic farmhouse-inspired architecture with engineered wood siding, stone accents, large arched windows and a covered front porch. Inside, luxury vinyl plank flooring, wood furnishings, stained-glass details, a fireplace and warm lighting contribute to an atmosphere intended to help residents feel at home during their recovery.

"We wanted to create a home environment for them, particularly with the situations that they have had to endure," said Anthony Kelley, associate AIA and architectural designer at KAI. "We wanted to make them feel at home and provide a safe place for them to heal."

Kelley noted that the building's footprint was intentionally designed in the shape of a cross, reflecting the hope that The Covering House seeks to provide every resident who enters the program.

Founded by Dedee Lhamon after learning about the prevalence of child trafficking in the St. Louis metropolitan area, The Covering House has spent more than 15 years expanding services for young survivors. The new campus represents the organization's most significant investment to date and positions it to meet increasing demand for residential treatment.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house celebrated the completion of the project and recognized the donors whose contributions helped make the campus possible.

KAI CEO Michael B. Kennedy said the project closely aligns with the firm's longstanding mission of improving communities through thoughtful design and construction.

"Forty-five years ago, my father started KAI with the goal of transforming communities—not just the physical environment but also transforming the lives of people who use those facilities," Kennedy said. "For many of KAI's employees, this project spoke to their hearts. We were extremely honored to play a role in helping this organization expand the tremendous work they do for these children."

The project demonstrates how architecture can support healing by pairing trauma-informed design with residential comfort, creating a space where vulnerable youth can focus on recovery while receiving the care and resources they need for the future.