Former New Center-Area School Building to Serve Children Again

The site of the former Fairbanks School located at 8000 John C. Lodge Freeway in the New Center neighborhood will be converted into a learning center for children with Autism.

The property is currently owned by Henry Ford Health, which has historically purchased disused properties near its hospitals to support strategic expansion and community revitalization efforts. In a meeting Wednesday evening, health system leaders shared plans to sell the site to Centria, a national leader in autism therapy services.

With the sale, the health system will see through a commitment it made last year through the City of Detroit’s Community Benefits Ordinance, which requires organizations undertaking major development projects to work with neighbors to identify community benefits and address potential negative impacts. 

Henry Ford Health is in the middle of a $2 billion expansion project at Henry Ford Hospital, which is located just across the freeway from the former school building. The hospital expansion is largest component of a $3 billion community development by the health system, Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons, and Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences aimed at enhancing the New Center neighborhood.

“During the Community Benefits process neighbors told us they wanted the Fairbanks property brought back to life as something that fell into one of five categories: career opportunities, education, health care, housing, and community building,” said Jerry Darby, Vice President of Planning, Development and Design at Henry Ford Health. 

“By partnering with Centria, we address several of those categories,” Darby continued. “Centria will convert this unused space into a place for children with autism to learn and grow. They’re helping families get this care closer to home and bringing new job opportunities to the neighborhood.” 

Recent advancements in autism awareness and diagnosis have led to a greater demand for the type of care provided by Centria and the Henry Ford Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, which has locations in Hamtramck and Troy. Leaders say the new Centria center will help meet the growing need.  

“We’re already engaged with over 300 families living in Detroit—but more than half of them have to travel outside the city to receive services,” said Eric Labe, President of DeNovo for Centria Autism. “That’s not aligned with our mission, nor with the needs of Detroit families. This center brings access back into the city, where it’s needed most.”

More than 350 Centria employees live and work in Detroit today. The company also actively partners with local organizations to raise awareness, support advocacy, and participate in community events centered around acceptance and inclusion.

A Purpose-Built Center with Local Impact

Centria is making a significant investment to thoughtfully renovate the former Fairbanks School, repurposing the building into a modern therapy center designed to meet the specific needs of children with autism. The space will incorporate Centria’s pod-based layout—promoting collaboration, close supervision, and individualized care in a safe, supportive setting.

At full capacity, the center will employ more than 100 people, including behavior technicians, clinical supervisors, and administrative team members. 

Centria plans to partner with Detroit-based contractors for ongoing support such as landscaping, janitorial services, HVAC, plumbing, and other operational needs—ensuring that the project delivers meaningful value to the surrounding community.

“Our commitment extends beyond clinical therapy,” added Labe. “This center represents our promise to build something truly local-- designed for Detroit families, staffed by Detroit professionals, and supported by Detroit businesses.”

Pending the sale of the property, construction is expected to begin in 2025, with an anticipated opening in 2026.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES: mediarelations@hfhs.org