1. Provide a safe, joyful, and nurturing space for Island children.
2. Celebrate and support the work of early childhood educators.
3. Master plan the five-acre campus to illuminate its promise and rally organizational leaders and donors around a shared vision.
4. Minimize impact.
From the very first approach, the ECC radiates warmth and purpose. A timber-framed entryway, strung with lights, offers both welcome and wonder.
Inside, sunlight pours through the skylights into a soaring central atrium. The atmosphere is serene yet spirited—wiggles are encouraged, laughter bubbles just below and surface, and curiosity is a constant companion.
Warm wood tones and soft, colorful textiles wrap the rooms in a sense of calm and delight.
Floor-to-ceiling glass keeps classrooms connected to the heart of the building while maintaining safety comfort, and nap time. Low, wide sills and built-in nooks invite small bodies to perch, play, or settle into conversation.
Just beyond, covered porches become open-air classrooms, spilling out into a natural playscape where timber play structures weave through native meadows and trees provide both shelter and scale.