LEARNING BY DESIGN magazine - Mt. Healthy Early Learning Center

Site Plan
The design anticipates a future first-grade pod addition as well as kitchen expansion and cafeteria addition to introduce communal eating to the older students..
The mascot of the district, the owls, is referenced in the design of the entry doors, in the trusses in the main entry hall and in the shingle “feathers” on the outside of the main entry.
Color-coded pathways lead children to their destinations.
Pairs of classrooms share a support core offering a studio space with an outdoor learning area along with dedicated student restrooms.
Right outside each shared studio space is the seamless opportunity for outdoor learning.
Right outside the community room space, the large group room meets individual tutoring needs.
A skylight suffuses the muscle room with natural light, while a kitchen space anchors one corner of the room (with a child-height work-island) with “treehouse” loft above.
A full-size stairway accesses the "treehouse" loft.
A hidey hole underneath the stair provides an easily supervised spot to which children can retreat or explore.
The “Clipped Corner” classroom design maximizes spatial “opportunities for learning” while meeting the requirement for unobstructed visual supervision.
A corner window at the narrow end of the classroom frames a quiet space for group reading time and independent/small group activities.
The play yard includes options for structured play, free running on grass and a quieter grove of trees.
The central outdoor yard offers a “Porch” for outdoor performances, reading aloud, all-school gatherings, etc.
©2022 JH Photo
©2022 JH Photo
©2022 JH Photo

PROJECT NARRARTIVE

To give district students the best chance for long-term academic success, Mt. Healthy Early Learning Center delivers a learning environment totally focused on supporting young children and their transition from home to elementary school.

Color-coded pathways greet children and lead them to their destination: the PK or Kindergarten community. In each community, four pairs of classrooms cluster around two shared spaces: a community room for small group work and a large-muscle room for indoor play and large group activities. A kitchen area (with a child-height work-island), a hidey hole and a “treehouse” loft add to space flexibility. Paired classrooms share a studio space and dedicated outdoor learning area, encouraging teacher teamwork and delivering immense flexibility including the seamless opportunity for outdoor learning.

The classroom shape provides direct line-of-sight supervision while affording the maximum number of corners for activity centers. Locating the entry at the center of the classroom supports the widest variety of furniture and activity arrangements.

The central outdoor play yard includes options for structured play, free running on grass and a “Porch” for performances and all-school gatherings. Low-set windows throughout the building engage the children with outside nature while offering plenty of space to display student work above.

Mt. Healthy Early Learning Center

Description

Owner
Mt. Healthy City School District
Cincinnati, OH

Architecture Firm
SHP
CINCINNATI,Ohio
shp.com

Mt. Healthy Early Learning Center

Category

Description