COLOMBIA — On Friday, construction on the new Thompson Center in Columbia came one step closer to completion. The new center will help meet the growing demand from families affected by autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
The $55 million facility will double the size of the current Thompson Center. The new Thompson Center at South Providence Medical Park will replace the old center on Portland Street. During a topping-out ceremony, construction crews placed the final steel beam on the roof of the new facility. Angela Keller’s 3-year-old daughter Renesmee has autism and is treated at the Thompson Center. Keller said the new facility will help reduce wait times. The current average wait time for services is 9 months.
Keller said, “I struggled. I was fortunate to learn about some of her disabilities before she was born. I was able to find those resources early and knew what to ask for before I left the hospital. Some parents aren’t so lucky.”
The new, larger center will offer more services, including a playground, therapy room, and group therapy rooms. More than 231,000 children in Missouri will benefit from services at the new Thompson Center.
Connie Brooks, executive director of the Thompson Center, said: “We have a lot of children and adults who really need more support in terms of social interaction, friendships, stable relationships and dealing with some of the behaviors that come with autism. It’s a pretty broad spectrum.”
Thompson Center administration plans to open the new facility in December 2025.
