On April 21, Quest, Inc. celebrated the ribbon cutting of Quest Kids Orlando, a 16,000‑square‑foot education and therapy campus for children and teens with developmental disabilities.
Responding to a Growing Need
Located near the heart of Downtown Orlando, the new campus is the result of a 10‑year effort to design and build a space that reflects the needs of Quest Kids Academy and Quest Kids Therapy. Quest Kids Academy serves students ages 5–22 through two core focus areas: early academics and life and employment readiness. Quest Kids Therapy provides Applied Behavior Analysis‑based (ABA) therapy for children and teens with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities.
“As the rate of autism continues to increase, this dual-purpose campus represents Quest’s commitment to the Central Florida community,” said Quest President & CEO, John Gill. “Our families deserve this state-of-the-art building and it puts Quest at the forefront of service delivery for autism.”
A Shared Commitment to Central Florida
The mission is especially critical today. With one in every 31 children diagnosed with autism, the demand for accessible, high‑quality services continues to grow. Thanks to a strong legacy of community partnerships, Quest Kids Orlando will serve as a direct response to that need. Dr. Phillips Charities — Quest’s first community donor in 1966 — provided the lead philanthropic gift for the new campus. Additional support came from Guardian Trust Foundation, Williams Family Foundation, Isaac’s Family Trust and more than 30 community partners who helped make the project possible.
Schenkel Schultz and The Collage Companies were instrumental in transforming the former structure, once a windowless 1962 bunker, into a space designed around the needs of children and families. The team listened closely to what Quest hoped to accomplish, ensuring the building became a physical representation of that vision.
“Quest asks their clients to reach for the stars. This project answers that call like a telescope pointed skyward, gathering light where there once was only solid wall,” said architect Ekta Desai, partner and brand lead at Schenkel Shultz. “This is design as a social form of love. Every corridor and room tell children: You belong here, and you are known here.”
Quest is thankful for the partners, supporters and team members who helped make Quest Kids Orlando possible.
Applications Now Open
For more information about Quest Kids Academy and Quest Kids Therapy, visit QuestKids.org. Applications are now open for both programs.
