tahoe forest hospital child care center
truckee, california
The Tahoe Forest Hospital Child Care Center provides day care facilities for fifty infants, pre-schoolers, and school-aged children.
Situated on a site adjacent to the hospital and a residential area, the design addresses the surrounding neighborhood through its form and material choice. The center, for example, has wood siding and gabled roofs, refelcting the predominant form of the surrounding neighborhood. The building also responds to the natural environment of the site. Covered play areas allow for year-round outdoor play, despite Truckee's often snowy and chilly weather. Although located in a wooded area, the classrooms utilize natural lighting through extensive placement of skylights.
The residential scale of the building responds to the emotional and physical needs of the children. The center is broken down into small residentially scaled spaces providing a deinstitutionalized atmosphere for the children. This is exemplified in the home-like kitchens. The center's design also accomodates for future expansion and includes a separate multi-purpose area which can be used as a community meeting space.