The Anne Carlsen Center, located in Jamestown, North Dakota, was founded on the principle that every individual has inherent worth and deserves the opportunity to lead an independent life. The Center strives to be a top provider of education and services for individuals and families of all ages facing challenges such as cerebral palsy, orthopedic, vision, and hearing disabilities, autism, pervasive and other behavioral disorders, and various medical conditions.
JLG Architects has collaborated with the Anne Carlsen Center to create a master plan for a pioneering facility that emphasizes education, independent medical care, and housing. This project aims to strengthen the school’s pedagogical approach while exploring innovative methods to promote independence for all children. The center will include 22 rooms for medically complex acute care patients, 12 long-term care resident rooms, collaborative learning areas, family-focused residential units, a Center for Ideation, and an interactive exhibit space dedicated to the center’s history.
A 2025 MCA Design Award winner, the custom-designed 110,000-square-foot home enhances the organization’s capacity to serve its clients. Its exterior showcases architectural metal wall cladding in a colorful palette, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere for patients and their families. The building features a modern, rectilinear design, with all-metal wall panels used creatively, incorporating corrugated textures and bursts of neon-bright colors around ribboned curtainwall windows. A courtyard play area combines simple geometric shapes and isolated color blocks, reminiscent of Mexican architect Luis Barragan’s work, adding warmth during cold North Dakota winters.
JLG Architects worked with contractor MG McGrath and relied on Petersen to provide PAC-CLAD metal cladding. Designers selected various profiles, including 1/2-in. and 7/8-in. corrugated perforated panels used as a screen at the entrance, along with plain metal sheets. The main finish is Cool Color Bone White, complemented by a range of custom accent colors—Champagne, Lemon Twist, Center Stage Green, Gulfstream, and Purple—to ensure the center stands out even during gray or snowy winter days in the Northern Prairie.
To understand the full range of services offered by the Anne Carlsen Center, it’s useful to know about its namesake. Anne Carlsen was a distinguished educator for children with various disabilities, aware of the challenges they faced. Born on November 4, 1915, she had no forearms and limited lower leg function. Her progressive parents made sure she received the same education as her siblings. Through surgery, prosthetics, and therapy, she learned to walk and earned a Ph.D. in a field focused on the needs of students with disabilities. As she advanced academically, Carlsen became principal of what was then called the Crippled Children’s School in Jamestown. Her advocacy for individuals with disabilities earned the school national recognition, and it was renamed in her honor in 1980. When the new facility opened, it expanded therapeutic services and added residential support for 34 residents, along with outpatient care.
