Autism-Sensitive Home Design and Expansion in Mabank, TX
A sustainable, passive, and neurodiversity-informed custom home in Texas
The Scherer House is a 3,000 sq. ft. home expansion project located in Mabank, Texas, thoughtfully designed for a family seeking a permanent residence for their adult daughter with autism. Originally a 900 sq. ft. riverside home, the structure was completely transformed into a custom home in Texas that now embodies autism-sensitive home design, neurodiversity-informed architecture, and sustainable residential architecture — all within a modest footprint.
This project reflects how special needs home design can go beyond code compliance and become an empowering tool for daily comfort, independence, and long-term family well-being. It also demonstrates how thoughtful planning, even with spatial and structural limitations, can achieve high-performance outcomes both environmentally and emotionally.
A Layout Tailored for Sensory Clarity and Emotional Stability
Designing for neurodiverse individuals requires an understanding of how sensory stimuli, spatial relationships, and environmental control affect day-to-day experience. The Scherer House was shaped by close coordination with the family, resulting in a layout that supports sensory regulation, structured routine, and optional social interaction.
Key program elements include:
- 3 private bedrooms with calming views
- 3 full bathrooms (including ADA-compliant upgrades)
- An open-plan living/dining/kitchen zone configured for acoustic and visual clarity
- A 3-car garage to future-proof for care needs or multi-generational occupancy
- An upper floor — accessible by both elevator and stairs — with:
- A light-filled art studio
- A meditation and yoga space
- A small gym/exercise room
- A dedicated sensory storage loft
These upper-level spaces were conceived as quiet, specialized zones for reflection, expression, and stimulation control. The separation of zones for work, rest, and recreation is key to the project’s autism-sensitive home design approach.
Core Principles of Special Needs Home Design
The Scherer House incorporates features drawn from established best practices in neurodiversity-informed architecture, including:
- Natural light and framed outdoor views to create a calm sensory baseline
- Acoustic separation between private and social areas
- Predictable room transitions that reduce cognitive load
- Minimal visual clutter, with warm but neutral material finishes
- Privacy without isolation, ensuring connection is always optional
- ADA-compliant pathways and restroom upgrades to support long-term mobility planning
These strategies allow the home to function as a special needs home design case study — one that avoids institutional character while offering high levels of functionality, comfort, and emotional resilience.
Sustainability Meets Livability
In line with PAS Architects’ ethos of sustainable residential architecture, the Scherer House includes several energy- and resource-efficient systems designed to reduce long-term operational cost while increasing year-round comfort. These include:
- High-performance wall assemblies with advanced insulation
- A 6-zone HVAC system for customized temperature control
- Solar panel array with EV charging readiness
- A double-loop water heating system for instant hot water and energy savings
- LED lighting throughout, with automated zones
- Blackout shading systems to support sleep hygiene and overstimulation management
- Roofline and site drainage upgrades to manage water flow and support future expansions
Every decision in the expansion was filtered through the lens of long-term adaptability, family care, and passive design strategies. This includes optimizing building orientation using sun path simulations to achieve passive solar performance, cross-ventilation, and thermal stability with minimal mechanical reliance.
Passive Design and Climate Responsiveness
The site, located near the Dallas River, provided both a serene backdrop and opportunities for climate-responsive residential architecture. Through modeling and performance simulation, the design team positioned windows and shading devices to maximize:
- Daylighting without glare
- Natural cross-ventilation across key living zones
- Solar heat gain control in summer and passive warming in winter
- Shading systems for both indoor and outdoor use
- Blackout zones for improved sensory regulation during rest
This commitment to passive design ensured the home not only meets performance expectations but creates a strong connection to the natural rhythms of the day — critical for neurodiverse residents.
Designed for Growth, Stability, and Wellbeing
At its core, the Scherer House is more than a home expansion; it’s a model of what autism-sensitive, sustainable, and adaptive architecture can achieve when deeply informed by the user’s life.
The client’s goals were clear: create a space that would offer dignity, clarity, and security for their daughter, while maintaining flexibility for the family’s future. The final product is a custom home in Texas that not only meets today’s needs but anticipates tomorrow’s.
This project affirms PAS Architects’ values:
- Passive design
- User-centered architecture
- Sustainable systems
- Sensitive design for neurodiverse and special needs residents
It also demonstrates that good design — even for complex challenges — can still be beautiful, affordable, and deeply human.
To explore more of the design thinking, construction progress, and project execution behind our work, visit the PAS Architects Facebook page or view project videos on our YouTube channel. PAS Architects is a licensed architecture firm based in Cerritos, California, specializing in Passive, Adaptive, and Sustainable design. We serve clients across Southern California — including Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Riverside County — with a service-driven approach rooted in technical clarity and long-term impact
