Design for The Learning Experience newest campus in Houston
There are many variables that childcare providers have to consider when developing a new early education facility. From location, to student capacities, to the always important construction budget, no option is left unexplored. Multi-story early education facilities can be designed to resolve the many issues that owners face when building on compact lots in denser urban areas.
The first aspect of developing a project that will have a significant effect on its success is finding the right site. When an owner is looking for property to develop in a highly populated area, large open tracts of land are difficult to find. The available area to build is limited which deters some providers as a smaller building footprint requires a reduction in student capacity or sacrificing access to outdoor play. These constraints can offer the types of challenges that encourage creative solutions from designers.
By design, multi-story facilities require less land than single story developments to serve the same number of children. This reduction in land cost can potentially offset the impact of incorporating appropriate building safety elements, like sprinkler systems and egress stairs.
Through the implementation of advanced technology, preschools are no longer limited to single story buildings. From a programming standpoint, we as Architects prioritize the placement of spaces for younger children on the ground level, whereas the older children can occupy the upper level(s). Multi-story early education buildings also offer the opportunity to provide access to outdoor play on the upper level. These outdoor areas can be stacked over play spaces on the ground level, which provide a chance to connect both areas with vertical
circulation, such as ramps and stairs. Ultimately early education providers should feel confident in their pursuit to develop projects in places outside of the norm to better serve a variety of communities. Building in dense, urban areas with limited land availability can be achieved effectively by designing multi-story childcare facilities. Partnering with a design professional that is able to blend the owner’s operational needs as well as life safety and creative solutions for outdoor access is the first step toward building a successful project.
Atrium stair with view panels for the NIKE Creekside preschool campus
Proposed Egress (Life Safety) plan for an upper classroom floor