Connect to Community

We traveled to Deerfield for our March Informational Tour of Tommy’s House. 

Tommy’s House was a residential design project of architects George Braddock and Chris Turley that was undertaken to accommodate the needs of its resident, Tommy, a young man profoundly affected by autism, and his staff. Those needs were met through the clever use of standard materials and critical attention to details.

Thank you to Chris Turley, the founder, president and lead designer of Turley Architects in Chicago, for organizing and facilitating the tour, and to Tommy and his family for allowing us to visit. Chris is dedicated to transforming spaces for the special needs community and to helping families envision their own inspiring and effective solutions. Chris says that many families believe that the problems they face are either unsolvable or too costly to address, but in reality, many can be handled through thoughtful design and off-the-shelf materials.

In Tommy’s case, some of the behaviors that needed to be addressed included: sensory issues involving light and noise; pacing; attacking materials (kicking, striking, picking); weaponizing items; and repetitive activities (light switches, flushing, etc.).

By using primarily stock materials, Chris was able to transform a suburban ranch-style home that was purchased by the family into a safe and comfortable place for Tommy. Here are just some of the design and construction considerations that were implemented (some of which are shown in the photos above):

• Blind spots in the floor plan were eliminated so Tommy could be monitored in a less obtrusive way.
• Drywall was reinforced with plywood for strength.
• Fabric-covered fiberglass panels were added to the walls in high-traffic areas to reduce injury, protect the walls, and minimize noise.
• All the baseboards and trim were glued and screwed and then sealed to eliminate joints that invited “picking”.
• Traditional wood doors were replaced with fiberglass doors to take a beating. In addition, drag mechanisms were added to some doors to restrict slamming.
• Window glass was removed and replaced with thicker tempered safety glass and patterned film was added to reduce glare and distractions from the outside.
• Window treatments were eliminated; some windows have blinds between two panes of safety glass.
• Custom heavy-duty tables, benches and bed frames were built and bolted to the floor. Chris stated that this furniture could “survive Armageddon”.
• Televisions were mounted behind 1/2″ laminated glass.
• Ceiling fans were removed and can lights with exposed bulbs were replaced with LCD and sealed for a minimal cost. 
• A quiet room with soft furniture and sound-deadening panels was added for when Tommy needs a sensory break.
• To accommodate Tommy’s extreme love of water, the master bathroom was converted into a 1-person water park with a shower area featuring seven heads, each controlled by a separate button. Tommy spends at least an hour a day in this area! The waterproof design includes several floor drains, several fans, and a heated floor to speed drying time. In addition, the toilet can be programmed for a delayed flush to reduce the desire to flush repeatedly.
• A locked closet stores all electronic equipment, wiring, controls, etc.

You can also learn more about Turley Architects by visiting http://www.turleyarchitects.com/. You can also view video of Chris talking about this project at https://youtu.be/YS0x0dHONb4.

Educational Outreach events are offered in partnership with the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) and are paid for in part by a grant from Palatine Township. Thank you for your support!