Designing Early Childhood Facilities

Community Investment

ResoGuurcied2e Collaborative for Kids

Developing Early Childhood Facilities

Designing Early Childhood Facilities

Equipping and Furnishing Early Childhood Facilities

Creating Playgrounds for Early Childhood Facilities

Community Investment

ResoGuurcied2e Collaborative for Kids

Published by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Community Investment Collaborative for Kids

Contributing authors: Dogan W. Arthur, Cindy Larson, Amy Gillman and Carl Sussman

August 2006

The authors and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this resource guide.

CONTENTS

Contents

Introduction

1

Working with an Architect

1

The 5 Phases of the Design Process

2

Defining Your Space Needs

3

General Design Principles

10

A Walk Through The Center

15

Exterior Building Entry

16

Interior Entry and Reception

17

Classroom Spaces

20

Gross Motor Rooms/

Multi-Purpose Spaces

28

Program Support Spaces

30

Lighting

35

Lighting Table

39

Exterior Site Requirements

42

Security

44

Special Considerations for

Urban Sites

46

Materials, Systems

and Accessibility

48

Exterior Materials

48

Interior Materials

49

Climate Control and Building Systems 51

Accessibility

53

Facility Design

Resource Materials

54

Publications

54

Web Links

54

Appendix

55

Sample Space Program

i

t"...the design of a center can either promote or discourage contact between child and caregiver. It can create a pleasant work environment that eases the task of caregiving and makes caregivers want to stay on, or it can add to staff burdens, burnout, and turnover." Quoted from Anita Olds, Child Care Design Guide

ii

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Whether you are constructing a brand new child care center or renovating your existing site it can be an exciting and challenging experience. A well-planned physical environment will support the implementation of a high quality program for young children in many ways; therefore, it is critical that you spend ample time, devote sufficient resources and give careful thought to the design of your new space. This guide will help you better understand and navigate the many considerations that are part of creating a great environment for young children.

The guidelines presented here apply to all types of child care (center-based, family child care, back-up, drop-in, etc.) but have been developed primarily for child care centers serving infants through preschoolers. The concepts described reflect best practices in the early care and education field and are intended to encourage you to think more about the vital connection between quality space and quality programming.

We recommend that any organization pursuing a building project, whether large or small, secure the services of an architect registered in your state, with experience in designing spaces for young children. Your project architect should be closely involved in the planning of your building from the very beginning and can assist you as you navigate all of the many variables and regulations related to designing a quality space. They can also assist you in securing the services of other qualified consultants such as engineers.

Although the codes and regulations governing the construction of child care facilities are not the main focus of this guide, we strongly recommend that you become familiar with all applicable licensing and regulatory standards early on in the design process. Your architect can work with you to ensure that your facility is fully in compliance with all relevant requirements, which supercede any recommendations in this guide. The specific codes and regulations that apply to your project will vary greatly from state to state, but in most areas of the country child care licensing regulations, building codes, fire safety codes and zoning regulations will all play a major role in the design and location of your center.

WORKING WITH AN ARCHITECT

Successfully creating a quality child care environment depends on several things: your architect's skill, your abilities as a client, and the relationship you forge together. The working relationship you have with your architect will be as important as the formal steps in the design process. Here are some key pointers for how to build a good client-architect relationship:

Be the program expert. Your architect's job is to help you realize your vision, not his or hers. The architect should be an expert in what it takes to make a structure stand, how to meet building codes and how to translate your program needs into a physical design. You are the expert about your program and the type of space it needs to function most effectively. In order for your architect to translate your needs into drawings you must be able to clearly describe how you want your program to function, how many children and what ages you want to serve, what additional services you will offer, etc.

Be up to date on best practices. Whether you are undertaking a renovation or major new construction project, you are creating a space for your program that you hope will last for many years. Make sure

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