Project Details
- Project Name
- Early Childhood Development Center
- Location
-
26000 SE Stark Street
Gresham ,OR ,United States
- Architect
- Mahlum Architects
- Client/Owner
- Mt Hood Community College
- Project Types
- Education
- Size
- 22,740 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2011
- Awards
- AIA - Local Awards
- Shared by
-
editor,hanley wood, llc
- Consultants
-
Kurt Haapala AIA LEED AP,General Contractor: Walsh Construction,Beth Brett AIA LEED A,Rene Berndt AIA LEED AP,Greenworks,Structural Engineer: HHPR,null: Interface Engineering,Electrical Engineer: Interface Engineering
- Project Status
- Built
- Cost
- $5,350,000
Project Description
Conceived as a village of small play-learn communities surrounded by nature, this new Early Childhood Development Center resembles a cluster of houses. In support of concepts identified by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods, the design promotes a strong connection to nature. Low ceilings respond to the scale of the children and kite shaped trusses harvest daylight from above the corridors into the play-learn spaces while maintaining a low volume. Window seats provide views into the external play yard and beyond. Reclaimed wood ceilings, rich colors and handcrafted benches fabricated by local high school students reinforce the familiar, homelike character of the center. In the play spaces, deep walls serve the dual purpose of providing spaces for children to claim for themselves by carving out caves, window niches and benches as well as meeting the need for abundant and directly accessible storage in each room.
