Roosevelt Warm Springs to Host Groundbreaking for $8.5 Million Renovation Project

Ceremony to be held Saturday, April 26th at 11 a.m. in the Quadrangle

[Warm Springs, GA] The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) is pleased to announce the groundbreaking for an ambitious $8.5 million renovation and restoration project that will transform several buildings at the historic Roosevelt Warm Springs Comprehensive Center (RWS). With an additional $12 million budgeted for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, this brings the total planned investment for the project to more than $20 million.

The groundbreaking will kick off Saturday, April 26th at 11 a.m. in the Quadrangle, with State Representative Debbie Buckner, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board Member Faye Perdue, GVRA Executive Director Chris Wells, Residential Center Director Dennis “Chip” Medders, city, county, and community leaders, as well as staff representing GVRA.

“This $8.5 million investment in the Warm Springs campus is more than just bricks and mortar — it's a commitment from Governor Brian P. Kemp and state legislators to support GVRA’s mission of empowering students with disabilities,” said GVRA Executive Director Chris Wells. “The state of Georgia isn’t just investing in a facility — we’re investing in futures.”

The major project, which focuses on preserving the architectural heritage of the campus, will include exterior waterproofing and painting for four buildings in the Quadrangle, along with enhancements to water management systems and campus-wide signage and wayfinding. Kress Hall and Builders Hall will undergo full renovations, while Georgia Hall will see significant updates to its bathrooms. Roosevelt Hall will also receive a facelift, along with other building improvements across the campus.

“Today’s groundbreaking is more than the start of construction. It marks the beginning of new possibilities,” says GVRS Board Member Perdue. “This center will continue to be a place where students with disabilities not only learn valuable vocational skills but also gain confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. It’s a milestone for the campus and for the Warm Springs community.”
Once completed, the renovated, modern spaces will serve as hotel rooms and student housing, providing upgraded accommodations that meet the evolving needs of the campus community.

Contact: Carla Murphy, Public Affairs Director, at [email protected] or (470) 922-4011.
About the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Established in July 2012, the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) operates five integrated and interdependent statutory programs that share a primary goal - to serve Georgians with disabilities to empower them to live independent lives.