Located in Glendale, California, the
23,000 square-foot childcare facility is designed to accommodate 236 children
between infant and Pre-K ages. The
sustainable strategies incorporated into the building are key visual and tactile
elements in the design, emphasizing the facility as both a learning environment
and an educational tool.
The design incorporates recycled and green materials
throughout the complex .The center features rammed earth walls, which not only
have the potential to last indefinitely, but regulate heat flow, allowing for
minimal environmental impact. Rammed earth walls function to absorb heat during
the day and release it at night, cutting energy costs dramatically. The
Childcare Center also features rainscreen exterior walls, which not only serve
to waterproof the structure, but allow it to breathe. Our rainscreens--in
addition to strategic window placement-- provide an additional layer of
insulation, further increasing the energy efficiency of the complex. These
sustainable elements do not merely serve as a stage set for the Center and its students,
but demand interaction; the system of solar panels forms a protective canopy over
the pedestrian walkway, fulfilling a functional purpose while also showcasing
the complex’s environmentally-conscious features to all who walk beneath it.
These design features create a colorful, dynamic
environment that invites engagement and education. By integrating sustainable
design features into the learning environment, our hope is to inspire children
to become enlightened decision makers of tomorrow.
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