CORONADO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

The Early Childhood Development Center is a 25,000-square-foot facility for Coronado Unified School District. This new school is composed of four buildings housing kindergarten classrooms, preschool and day care, special education, childcare, multi-use room, media center and administration, among others. The buildings and outdoor spaces are arranged to give the appearance and feeling of a small village. Outdoor spaces include playgrounds, shaded lunch areas, outdoor gathering areas, outdoor activity areas for each classroom and courtyards.

Warm materials, such as brick and wood, are used throughout to create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. A rich palette of colors, finishes and patterns are integrated into the design and serves as a colorful background to the educational activities. Additionally, the classrooms, preschool and childcare rooms, as well as exterior covered walks, are designed with small children in mind. Scale and materials create spaces that are appropriate for small children. Careful consideration in the design of interior and exterior spaces allows each to borrow from and be enriched by the other. It is an enjoyable experience to visit the campus and “discover” all the different spaces as they unfold along each path.