Portfolio: Project Details
CCC Early Learning Center
Contra Costa Community College District
San Pablo, CA
|
|
The new one-story, 14,500 square-foot Early Learning Center serves twelve
infants, twelve toddlers, and seventy-two pre-school children. Interactive
Resources provided comprehensive architecture and engineering services for the
Center, which replaces the program's existing portable building.
The facility was designed to meet the emotional, physical, ergonomic, and
developmentally appropriate needs of the children. Child-sized toilet rooms,
interior and exterior play areas, crib and sleep areas, children's storage
"cubbies", diaper changing and dressing areas, wash and prep areas; baby bottle
and food storage, and auxiliary support spaces are provided. The Center also
has classrooms and a lab.
Design features include two vegetable gardens, and a complete children's
kitchen, where the children will learn to prepare snacks and bake cookies,
using child-sized counters, appliances, sinks, microwave, refrigerator, oven,
and cook top.
Security is one of the Center's main priorities. In response, we developed a
protective design to help keep children safe, incorporating features such as
open views of activity areas, gates, and fences; safe and easy drop-off and
pick-up of children; direct classroom access to exterior play areas; and
ADA-compliant parking. Fences and gates provide security, and also separate the
children into different age groups.
Beautifully landscaped grounds and carefully designed play areas enhance the
views of San Pablo Bay. Outdoor play areas include a tunnel, basketball court,
gently sloping lawn areas, ground surfaces with different textures, outside
sinks, and an exterior canopy to provide protection from the weather.
Special consideration was given to providing an accessible route to the building
which is located on a hillside, and providing a safe building in a seismically
active area.
