Custom EPS Foam Sensory Installation for
St. Coletta of Wisconsin

This custom sensory installation was created for St. Coletta of Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization serving nearly 200 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As part of an initiative led by the organization’s Autism Committee, the goal was to design a sensory room feature that would encourage calm, exploration, and tactile engagement. Ophelia, the sensory touch octopus, became the central element of that vision.

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Beginning with my original concept and design, the piece was carefully measured and scaled to fit the wall space. I led the foam fabrication process, including cutting, shaping, and developing layered surface textures to support a wide range of sensory experiences. In collaboration with the committee, we incorporated fabric-covered tentacles secured with Velcro, allowing individual components to be removed and replaced over time—an important consideration for accessibility, durability, and long-term use in disability programs and school environments.

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The octopus was coated with a hardened finish and embedded with a variety of tactile elements, including bottle caps, beads, raised textures, hand impressions, and multiple fabric types, creating opportunities for touch-based sensory input. To complete the environment, I hand-painted an “under the sea” background mural, helping immerse individuals in a calming, imaginative space designed to support sensory regulation and inclusive engagement.

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This project was truly a team effort, and I am grateful for everyone who contributed their time, ideas, and hands throughout the process. The collaboration between staff, committee members, and volunteers was essential in bringing this sensory space to life and ensuring it would be meaningful, durable, and accessible for those who use it every day.

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This project is also featured in the Hotwire Foam Factory Gallery (below), recognizing the creative use of foam fabrication in a nonprofit sensory environment.