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Exterior view of Laurel Child Development Center from courtyard.

Laurel Child Development Center

An all-electric, decarbonized early child development center for an underserved California public school community.

Location
Oakland, CA
Client
Oakland Unified School District
Practices
Size
10,200 SF
Year
2024
Additional Credits
Awards
An interior view of the dining hall. A buffet and cooler have wood accents and are surrounded by menu screens.

In partnership with the Oakland Unified School District, school administration, and local community, the design team developed a vision of an equitable preschool that sparks imagination and curiosity while encouraging early ecological stewardship.

In service of this vision, the facility provides learning environments connected to nature and support services for the whole family. The four classrooms accommodate 108 children and open onto a series of outdoor areas for nature play, noisy play, and gardening. The early childhood learning facility also includes a family resource center and dedicated staff work areas.

The school's sustainable design features serve as educational tools, including a solar roof that offsets energy use and carbon emissions, edible gardens with a water-collection barrel, and a teaching garden focused on the water and nutrient cycles.

As soon as kids walk in the door, the ceilings are high, it’s full of light, it’s colorful, there’s somebody to greet them at the door.

Caroline Jones, Director of Early Childhood Education
By the Numbers

Extensive and Inclusive Learning Space

The center encompasses 10,200 square feet, containing four preschool classrooms designed to serve 108 children, creating a spacious and engaging environment to foster early childhood development.

Significant Community Investment

Funded with $17.5 million through Oakland’s Measures J and Y bonds, the project reflects the community’s commitment to providing high-quality, modern early education facilities.

Energy-Efficient and Decarbonized Design

The building is all-electric and designed to meet the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) sustainability guidelines, supporting OUSD’s goals for energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
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