Rutgers breaks ground on Center for Adult Autism Services.

Byline: David Hutter

Rutgers University broke ground Monday on a facility that will house theRutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, which provides employment, vocational training and other services to people with autism.

The center, located on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is the first of its kind at a higher education institution in the United States. The new building, expected to open in 2020, will allow the center to more than double its capacity from 12 to 30 participants. The project, estimated to cost $9.5 million, is financed by philanthropic funds.

"This center will have a lasting impact on the lives of adults with autism in New Jersey and across the country," Rutgers President Robert Barchi said at the groundbreaking event.

RCAAS, established in 2016, serves adults with autism by providing paid employment and integration into the Rutgers community. The new facility will include...