BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
In January 2023, Child Crisis Arizona, whose mission is to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families, joined with CHASSE Building Team and Architectural Resource Team (ART) – as well as local dignitaries like Mesa Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, and major funders including Janis Merrill, Kathye Brown, Erik Olsson, and Thunderbird Charities – to break ground for its 38,000-square-foot, climate-friendly, net-zero campus in Mesa.
On September 25, 2024, the 2.4-acre, two-story campus opened its doors as one of the first nonprofits in Arizona to be sustainably built for future generations.
According to Torrie Taj, CEO of Child Crisis Arizona, the space enables Child Crisis Arizona to provide myriad services and facilities, including foster care and adoption licensing services; family education; community rooms for instruction, mentorship, and collaboration with partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona and New Pathways for Youth; expanded children’s counseling featuring sensory and play therapy rooms; a multi-purpose space to accommodate community and employee health and wellness needs; a zero-carbon centralized industrial kitchen supplying healthy meals for children in Early Education, Shelter, and Group Home, plus food box distribution with support from United Food Bank; a resource distribution center; courtyard and rooftop gardens; expanded foster teen programs with job skills training and financial education workshops; a car seat safety installation station; collaborative studio space in partnership with Ballet Arizona, Free Arts of Arizona, and Gabriel’s Angels; volunteer and staff training space; and centralized administration.
Additional partnerships are planned with Friendly House, Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona, and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, as well as eight art-inspired spaces that connect visitors to the natural elements on display within the building. “The design and construction revolved around the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge, which aligns with Child Crisis Arizona’s vision for ‘Safe Kids, Strong Families’,” said Ben Shunk, commercial business unit leader at CHASSE Building Team, noting that the design of the building itself focuses on showcasing the foundational earth elements of earth, water, and air.
The building is a Certified Living Petal Project Facility, which indicates that it meets at least three of the Living Building Challenge’s seven performance areas or “Petals,” and signifies a commitment to sustainable design practices in the areas of energy efficiency, materials selection, water usage, and site impact. The guidelines focus on the seven petals of Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty.
“It also meets the highest level of standards for Indoor Air Quality, making it truly one of the most ambitiously sustainable buildings in Arizona,” said Shunk. Visit www.childcrisisaz.org for more information.
