€2 million centre for adults with severe forms of autism to be built in Strovolos

A day centre for adults with severe forms of autism spectrum disorder will be built in Strovolos, a suburb of Nicosia. The project, which will cost €2 million, will be fully funded by Eurobank, while the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare will manage the centre after it opens. The results of the architectural competition were presented at the Presidential Palace on 2 October.

The centre will be located in the parish of Ayios Dimitrios. It will cover around 740 sq. m and accommodate up to 30 people at a time. The Government of Cyprus approved the decision to establish the centre in November 2025.

The facility is intended for people over the age of 22 who need a high level of support. Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tina Pavlou said the centre would fill a gap in the adult day-care system: visitors will be offered creative activities, skills development and programmes for gradual social integration. “Our goal is not simply to provide a safe place, but to offer meaningful daily life, individual support, opportunities to participate, and respect for each person’s abilities and needs,” Pavlou said.

A total of 37 entries were submitted to the competition. The winning design was by architects Chrysostomos Theodoropoulos, Eleni Livani and Panayiota Karamane. It was recognised for its functional clarity and simplicity. The building will be single-storey, with indoor and semi-open spaces arranged around an inner courtyard that will serve as the main point of reference for visitors. The route through the centre is designed in stages, from the noisy entrance area through transitional spaces to a quiet courtyard and sensory garden.

Eight projects in total received awards and distinctions. They will be shown at an exhibition at the Anastasios G. Leventis Building of the University of Cyprus in Nicosia from 2 to 7 October.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides described the centre as a response to a “real and pressing social need” and said the Government was preparing to establish another such centre in the Famagusta district.