The Oswego Community Unit School District 308 sought a forward-thinking design for their new early learning center, specifically tailored to the unique needs of children aged three to five. DLR Group undertook this challenge and conceived the Brokaw Early Learning Center, a facility designed to house three distinct programs: Tuition Pre-School, Preschool for All, and Special Education. The architectural solution is a pinwheel layout, thoughtfully arranging four small “houses” around a central hub of shared amenities. This core encompasses administrative offices, a multi-purpose gymnasium, and a community/parent room, fostering a sense of unity and shared resources.
Each of these “houses” within the Brokaw Early Learning Center is designed to create an intimate and manageable learning environment for young children. Comprising five classrooms clustered around an open central space termed a “living room,” this design intentionally reduces the perceived scale of the school for its youngest learners. From a child’s perspective, their school environment effectively shrinks to just five classrooms and a familiar, home-like living room. These multifunctional living rooms serve as flexible areas for group learning and various activities, effectively replacing traditional hallways and maximizing usable educational space. Remarkably, over 80% of the entire building is dedicated to educational purposes. The living room acts as the social and programmatic heart of each house, offering visual connections to the external environment and featuring high ceilings and gable roofs to create a bright and cheerful atmosphere conducive to learning and play.
Several key design goals were central to the development of Brokaw Early Learning Center. Firstly, creating a comfortable learning environment was paramount. With a focus on the daily activities of young children, each classroom incorporates both in-floor and ceiling radiant heating systems. This dual system ensures consistent and comfortable temperatures, enhancing the students’ well-being and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Windows are designed at both adult and child scales. Traditional glass windows are positioned for adults, while portal windows, set just 16 inches off the floor, are specifically for children. This low height ensures that students of all abilities can easily connect with the outdoors. Furthermore, observation windows between the living rooms and classrooms allow natural light from the gable roofs to permeate deeper into the interior spaces. The combination of gable roofs, high ceilings, and strategically placed windows ensures that 100% of classrooms and 85% of the entire building benefit from abundant natural light.
Secondly, the design incorporates elements to intentionally reduce the building’s scale to be more approachable for young learners. Horizontal lines are consistently used throughout the facility, employing color, materials, and texture to create a child-friendly scale. Both interior and exterior design elements are intentionally tapered at a 9-foot elevation, visually diminishing the building’s overall size and making it feel less imposing to children. Examples of these features include drywall reglets at 9 feet within interior spaces, entry canopies at 9 feet, and exterior brickwork extending up to 9 feet, above which a different material is utilized. This thoughtful scaling significantly reduces the perception of large, overwhelming spaces.
Interior view showcasing design elements at Brokaw Early Learning Center that are scaled for children.
Finally, addressing acoustics and providing effective sound control was a critical design consideration. Recognizing the sensitivity of young children to noise, the Oswego Community Unit School District 308 and DLR Group meticulously adhered to the ANSI Standard S12.60 for acoustics. To prevent sound transmission, electrical boxes are staggered, and partition walls are constructed with metal studs, acoustical insulation, and three layers of gypsum board, extending to full height to block sound leakage over the ceiling. Through these comprehensive design strategies, the Brokaw Early Learning Center successfully delivers a nurturing, developmentally appropriate, and acoustically sound environment perfectly suited for early childhood education.
