Child Saving Institute (CSI)(childsaving.org) announced it will begin initial capital improvements at its Children’s Square campus later this year to better serve children and families in southwest Iowa. The work focuses on safety, sustainability and long-term community needs.
A comprehensive review of prior facility assessments along with engineering and environmental evaluations, confirmed long-standing concerns. Several buildings, some over 100 years old, face challenges related to water intrusion, accessibility and deferred maintenance. Alternative solutions were considered but deemed unfeasible due to long-term risk.
“These are careful, necessary steps to ensure Children’s Square campus remains a place of hope for generations to come,” said Jaymes Sime, president and chief executive officer of CSI. “We look forward to working with the community to continue to provide the highest quality of care—now and in the future.”
Initial improvements include selective demolition within the Lemen Visitors Center; CSI plans to preserve meaningful elements of the campus legacy such as the stained glass and cupola.
“I grew up on this campus, and my family has been connected to Children’s Square since its founding in the 1880s,” said Bruce Lemen. “I believe CSI has approached this work with care, respect and a focus on what will best serve children and families today and in the future.”
CSI plans a reimagined Lemen Visitors Center with a small outpatient behavioral health practice, expanding access to services in Council Bluffs beginning in 2027. Construction is expected to become visible this summer.
Learn more at childsaving.org.