Navy Childcare Facility
San Diego, California

This 20,000 sq.ft. Child Development Center was designed in response to the demand for child care facilities for the dependents of Navy personnel at the Submarine Base in San Diego. Located in a spectacular canyon overlooking the San Diego Bay, the new child development center provides services for up to 300 children whose ages range from infancy through kindergarten. Designed to replace the existing semi-permanent facility, the new center more than triples the square footage of the existing one. All of the rooms occupied by children open directly to the outside allowing for access between indoor and outdoor areas. The outdoor play areas take advantage of the view. The sun and wind are screened by the building. One of the most unique aspects of this project is the building’s relationship to its angular site: three distinct axes define the building’s edges. Administrative services are located along one axis and the various age groups are located along the other two axes. The building mass is broken up into smaller elements which relate to the children who use it.