NORMAL - The former Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School administration building isn't the only one getting some attention these days.

Tyler Ernst, who purchased the "Y" dorms at 705 E. Lincoln St. and 706 E. Oglesby St. in 1998, recently completed renovation of another wing in the complex so it could become the new home of the autism program/Illinois State University affiliate site.

And Matt and Andrew Hughes are converting the east side of the former ISSCS power plant into the new home for their business, Mirus Research, a software application company.

Work also is under way on a Masonic Temple on land west of the power plant.

Karla Doepke, associate professor of psychology at ISU and director of the autism program/ISU affiliate site, said the new space in the Y-shaped dorms will allow all facets of the program to be at one site for the first time and give flexibility to expand the types and ranges of services available.

The program, which includes socialization groups, a resource room, a half-day school program and training for providers who work with autistic children, operates with a $250,000 grant from the Department of Human Services.

"We focus on working with kids with attention to having families and siblings involved," she said.

Doepke said Ernst worked closely with the group to provide a space that would meet the children's needs including special lighting, soundproofing and quiet toilets.

"He really went above and beyond," said Doepke.

The program plans to move into the space in January.

It will be the fourth ISU group to occupy space in the Y buildings, Ernst said. There are a total of 16 businesses, offices or groups in the completed portions of the buildings. Ernst expects the renovation of all the space in the two dorms to be completed in a couple of years.

Meanwhile, Mirus Research could move from its downtown Bloomington home to its new space in the east side of the former ISSCS power plant by mid-April, said Matt Hughes.

He and his brother, Andrew, are having windows installed but leaving the concrete ceilings and brick walls intact for their office.

"We like the open space and older buildings," Matt Hughes said.

The building triples or quadruples the business' current space. Hughes said the west side of the power plant, which was remodeled by Brad Egli and Michael Morrison, will be left as is and probably used for meeting space. The Hughes brothers purchased the building from Egli and Morrison in March.