Northland Early Education Center (NEEC) provides nationally accredited early education and/or therapy services for nearly 200 children annually, both typical children and those with developmental disabilities. To meet their growing need for fully inclusive services, NEEC hired Generator to assist with a capital campaign, design visioning, programming and later construction documents and construction administration upon a successful campaign. The project allowed NEEC to serve 58 additional children, increasing the current occupancy by 55 percent.
Our design solution reorients the building away from busy North Oak Trafficway, creating a new entry and drop off on the west side that is safer for children and families and closer to the new expanded parking lot. The existing parking lot will be converted to a protected green space and courtyard that will potentially recognize donors to the project.
A simple, playful exterior uses bold colors to highlight different areas of the building. Inside, the new lobby becomes the hub of the project; allowing the receptionist to see the main entry, exits and classroom corridors from the front desk. Key interior program elements include: 3 new classrooms, 8 renovated classrooms, new and renovated bathrooms, a new therapy gym, new teacher work and break rooms, a new larger commercial-grade kitchen, and a large multipurpose room that will function as cafeteria, additional therapy space and parent / community meeting room. On the exterior, a new fully inclusive playground, outdoor classrooms, and a walking path are being added to take advantage of the heavily wooded site.