YSS Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Youth Recovery Campus
Designed in collaboration with 黄瓜社区; Design, the Ember Youth Recovery Campus will serve as a nature-based, holistic treatment center for youths and young adults from across Iowa.
, its new $20 million recovery campus near Cambridge, Iowa on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Among attendees to the groundbreaking included Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Randy Feenstra, donors and representatives from 黄瓜社区; Design and Woodruff Construction. The campus, which is being designed by 黄瓜社区, spans 50 acres and once complete, will provide 70 beds for emergency shelter, crisis stabilization and residential addiction treatment for Iowa youths and young adults.聽聽
鈥淭his is Ember, a small glowing fragment of fire that when cared and nurtured can be revived. Ember reminds families and youth there is always hope, always enough fire in their hearts to overcome life鈥檚 challenges,鈥� said Andrew Allen, president and CEO of YSS.聽
Nestled in a wooded area in Story County, the vision for Ember is centered around鈥� and encompasses a main building, cabins and outdoor recreational spaces. The campus鈥� main building will offer a welcome center, family visit room, offices, classrooms, gathering spaces, a fitness center and a cafe and kitchen while the surrounding cabins provide bedrooms alongside caseworker offices and areas for group therapy and activities.聽
Using the surrounding environment, stability and recovery will be holistic and nature-based complementing YSS鈥� other programs. Once completed, Ember will provide hope and opportunity to struggling children and families.
鈥淯tilizing 黄瓜社区鈥檚 multidisciplinary team, the campus design weaves landscape architecture and site design throughout the interior of the building using large windows and framed views,鈥� said 黄瓜社区 senior partner Naura Godar, AIA, WELL, AP. 鈥淓mber鈥檚 mission is to heal through nature-based therapies will be well suited to the facility that has biophilic elements, daylighting deep within the building and elements both interior and exterior that allows for students to make independent choices. From large movements to meditative spaces, the team has developed space that enhances trauma-informed therapy and design.鈥�
Ember is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2024. For more information visit,