Transformative Recovery Facility Celebrates Grand Opening in Central Iowa
The Ember Recovery Campus, designed by RDG, provides a safe, welcoming space where youth and young adults can focus on healing and self-discovery.
On April 24, 2025, a new chapter for Iowa youth began as YSS officially opened the Ember Recovery Campus, a transformative new facility dedicated to helping Iowa youth facing substance use and mental health challenges. Designed by RDG Planning & Design, the 60,000-SF campus sits on 53 acres in Cambridge, Iowa, and offers 70 beds to support emergency shelter, crisis stabilization and residential addiction treatment services for youth ages 12–18 and young adults 18–24. The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and local community leaders.
“The Ember Recovery Campus embodies a vision of creating spaces that foster community and resilience,” said RDG Landscape Architect and Partner, Anne Machian, PLA, ASLA. “From the retreat-style cabins to the nature trails, every element was thoughtfully designed to support these young people on their journeys toward recovery. Working with YSS on this project makes us proud to contribute to a facility that offers belonging to Iowa’s youth.”
RDG’s design brings together natural materials and residential-scale features to create a sense of home. The campus includes two-story cabins with spacious bedrooms, large windows and private patios with hammocks and seating areas. Throughout the site, nature is integrated as a key healing element: therapy trails, native gardens and wellness-focused outdoor spaces foster calm, connection and a sense of renewal.
“Every detail was designed with healing in mind,” said YSS President and CEO, Andrew Allen. “We’re not just building a campus. We’re building a movement to make Iowa one of the greatest places in the country for young people to recover.”
The $30 million investment reflects a growing commitment to behavioral health in Iowa and underscores the importance of purpose-built environments that empower young people and inspire hope.