This two story 22,000 square child care center is located in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville community. The client and operator of the center is Centers for New Horizons, a community development organization that operates other child day care centers in the neighborhood. The facility faces Cottage Grove Avenue, an important commercial artery in the community. The red brick volume at the northeast corner of the facility introduces contextual historic building themes into the modern design of the rest of the building. A variety of building masses and exterior materials create the visual impression of smaller, grouped structures, consistent with the neighborhood streets code.
This Bronzville facility will provide day care for infants and toddlers, 3 to 5 years old, and an after school program for older children. The program features include 11 classrooms, a large motor skill room, a parent and child interactive room, a food preparation kitchen, social service and administrative support areas.
Classroom nooks and crannies are scaled to the size and curiosity of children. Other significant design features include both active and quiet play spaces, imaginative colors and patterns at interior finishes and distinctive window shapes, sizes and placement to augment interior space design and provide, abundant day-lighting.
