Elwyn Breaks Ground on the New Elwyn School

MEDIA, Pa. (Feb. 6, 2026) — Elwyn, the internationally recognized nonprofit human services organization, marked a major milestone in its master campus plan Friday with the groundbreaking of the new Elwyn school. With its 175th anniversary coming next year, Elwyn was joined by local, state and federal elected officials, community partners, staff, students and more to celebrate the beginning of the work to transform its facilities for the next generation of care. 

The new school — anticipated to be completed in August 2027, just in time to welcome students in the fall of the same year — will redefine educational and therapeutic environments for children with disabilities. As the signature project of Elwyn’s Master Campus Plan, the new school advances the long-term vision for a campus designed to support care, connection, and opportunity. 

“As we look ahead to our 175th anniversary, it’s thrilling to break ground on the New Elwyn School,” said Charles S. McLister, Elwyn president and CEO. “This project will set an example of what the future of education can look like for children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

The new school is designed to cater to students on two curriculum tracks: one for those with complex behavioral needs who will likely need to move forward in Elwyn’s residential program, and another for those who are able to be more independent and may be able to live on their own as adults.

Elwyn has allocated $45 million for the construction and design of the new school, with financing provided by KeyBank. The organization has engaged Haverford Development Partners as its development and construction partner. The new school will be brought to life by Haverford and North Star Construction. 

“KeyBank is proud to support Elwyn as they take the next step in this transformative project,” said Yulia Murphy, KeyBank Senior Middle Market Healthcare Relationship Manager. “Our financing will help Elwyn create a state‑of‑the‑art learning environment that empowers students with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and related behavioral health challenges to thrive. We are honored to partner with an organization so deeply committed to delivering exceptional education and support services to individuals and families across the region.”

Friday’s groundbreaking featured remarks from a host of elected officials and community partners including Delaware County Councilmember Dr. Monica Taylor and Senior Vice President of Middle Market Healthcare at KeyBank Yulia Murphy.   

“Elwyn has been a cornerstone organization in Delaware County for almost 175 years, and it is amazing to be here today to join the community in this next chapter of Elwyn’s history,” Dr. Taylor said. “The new school will benefit the community in many ways and enable Elwyn to better serve the children and adults in its care.” 

About Elwyn 

Elwyn is the national leader in education, treatment, and support services for over 25,000 children and adults, and proudly serves 10,000 families annually as the exclusive provider of early intervention services to children ages 3-5 in Philadelphia. Our mission remains steadfast, we make life better for people with developmental and behavioral health challenges. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in Media, Pa., Elwyn has grown to become one of the largest and most respected human services organizations in the industry. Please visit www.elwyn.org for more information.