CASA Rockville Welcome Center

CASA has operated welcome centers in Maryland since 1994 in response to growing numbers of contingent workers seeking work at unofficial hiring sites. Working in partnership with local governments, CASA established centers that provide job placement services, educational classes, financial services and supports, legal services, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) instruction for workers and their families. 

Encore Sustainable Architects has worked with CASA on several of these community centers, including the headquarters. In addition to providing much needed services in regions, CASA has uniquely been committed to both preserving original buildings in communities as well as aspiring to adapt these buildings in a sustainable way. The Rockville Welcome Center repurposes a building used by the Humane Society, and includes the adaptive reuse of 7,500 square-feet of vacant space into a vocational training center including classrooms and vocational training laboratories for healthcare, electricians, plumbers, maintenance and HVAC trainees. 

Construction on the vocational center is expected to be completed in 2025. The Rockville Welcome Center has also participated in energy modeling to improve sustainability and reduce energy costs. The finished building seeks to be Net Zero Certified, or to generate as much energy as it consumes.