Rochester Business Journal

The Hillside Family of Agencies on Friday unveiled a $22 million renovation project to its campus. The project spanned 13 years.

The renovations coincided with the organization’s 175th anniversary, and the renovation process itself traced back to the mid-1990s. At the time Hillside was embarking on an architectural planning study that resulted in a complete redesign of facilities on its Monroe Avenue campus to accommodate new service patterns for its clients. 

 “When we began the campus renovations 13 years ago, we wanted to ensure that the integrity and beauty of the 107 year-old campus historically remained intact,” said Dennis Richardson, Hillside president and CEO. “The revitalized campus has already created such a renewed sense of growth and prosperity for our youth living here and has allowed us to continue to provide the very best quality care.”

Financial support came from private donors and funders through different campaigns, Hillside officials noted.

The upgrades include:

• Six renovated residential cottages creating single bedrooms for youth and family spaces in each to encourage visits and gatherings;
• Horton Family Center, a new building that houses an emergency and diagnostic facility including medical, psychiatric, dental and other clinical offices;
•  Renovations to Eastman Hall, including a new vocational kitchen for aspiring chefs;
• New common area with a therapeutic fountain and a village green for youth to participate in outdoor activities;
• Renovations on one of the cottages so it now allows for residential services for eight youth with developmental disabilities and compromised mental health, a population Hillside was not able to serve on this campus before the building was rebuilt; and
• New baseball field, track and playground.

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