Design of the Early Childhood Center at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore., focused on a achieving a child-friendly scale and providing outdoor learning environments. Mahlum Architects angled the facility’s ceilings downward from the clerestory windows to create spaces comfortable to three- to five-year-old children, specified windows with low sills so children can easily see outside, and included 30-inch-deep walls in classrooms for storage, seating, and plant nooks. The center, which will be operated by Head Start and incorporate the college’s Early Childhood Education program, will be divided into four communities, each with two classrooms. A main street will meander throughout the $5.4 million facility creating plazas, nooks, and corners that will be used for various activities.
Related Stories
| Jul 22, 2011
High-performance windows and doors
Learning objectives After reading this article, you should be able to: Understand issues of thermal performance and energy efficiency in relation to window and door systems; describe optimal detailing of the window-wall interface and how it contributes to building performance, sustainability, and occupant well-being; understand how durability contributes to sustainable windows/doors; and list sustainable O&M requirements for window and door systems.
| Jul 21, 2011
Falling Architecture Billings Index reflects decrease in design demands
This months Architecture Billings Index (ABI), provided by the American Institute of Architects, is almost a full point lower than last month’s reported score. June’s reading of 47.2 was short of the required 50 to achieve billings increases, making July’s reading of 46.3 an unwelcome sign of market tidings.
| Jun 29, 2011
New leadership role for architects in net-zero design
BD+C Editorial Director Rob Cassidy talks with RNL Design's Tom Hootman, AIA, about the changing role of architects in net-zero designs.
