Crittenton Community Center

Marker partnered with Directions for Youth & Families (DFYF) to develop a state-of-the-art facility aimed at expanding access to behavioral health services for youth and families in Columbus, Ohio. This project involved constructing a modern, welcoming space designed to support DFYF’s mission of fostering resilience and self-sufficiency among at-risk youth through counseling, education, and community engagement.

The new facility encompasses therapy rooms, multipurpose areas, and administrative offices, all tailored to create a safe and supportive environment. By integrating trauma-informed design principles and flexible spaces, the building accommodates a variety of programs, including after-school activities, family counseling, and community workshops. This collaboration underscores Marker’s commitment to building spaces that serve and uplift the community.

The DFYF project presented several challenges. The first challenge came two months after construction was underway when a donor came forward with a generous gift to fund a majority of the 8,000 SF gymnasium—originally slated for a later phase, years to come. After receiving word that the scope of the project had grown and developing plans for the expansion, we had to treat the process as if we had two separate construction projects staggered simultaneously.  Marker worked with Design Group Architects to facilitate the change order and work through a dual schedule for the project.

A second notable challenge came when an air-handling unit for the gymnasium would not be delivered in time for the targeted facility opening. Marker creatively worked through alternatives and found a new resource. The RTU-2 for the gym was specified to be from Daikin which required a 91-day schedule extension to the gymnasium construction. Marker proposed switching to an alternate Trane unit, for a 42-day schedule extension instead. Through our value engineering process, Marker was able to save the client 49 days to the original schedule and over $68,000 in costs.

Managing what grew to be three phases of the project (thanks to very generous donors wanting this project to be spectacular) and finding equipment alternatives under tight timing with the expanded project scope were an honor and took great strategic planning to complete.

The completion of the DFYF facility has significantly enhanced the organization’s capacity to serve the community, providing increased access to essential behavioral health services, clinical counseling, education programs for youth and families as well as extensive after school programming. The new spaces give flexibility, enabling DFYF to offer a broader range of programs and reach more individuals in need.

Moreover, the project has contributed to the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood, serving as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for further community development. Marker is proud to partner with organizations like DYFY to create meaningful, community-centered spaces that positively impact lives.

2024 AIA Columbus | Large Project Merit Award

2024 Building Columbus | Best Community Impact Award