Elon Rhodes Early Learning Center
Designed in response to ongoing research in the field of early childhood education, the Elon W. Rhodes Early Learning Center emphasizes experiential learning opportunities in a relationship-based setting.
Project Details
- Client: Harrisonburg City Public Schools
- Location: Harrisonburg, VA
- Scope: New Addition
- Completion: 2017
- Size: 16,000 SF
- Performance: LEED Gold | EUI 18 kBTU/sf/year (modeled) | 68%reduction (regional CBECs 2003 K12 School baseline)
The Elon W. Rhodes Early Learning Center (ELC) is uniquely designed to facilitate experiential learning in social skills, motor coordination, and sensory development. As a part of district-wide grade realignment, Harrisonburg City Public Schools resolved to consolidate early learning into a central campus. With a curriculum based on cognitive development, the ELC encourages curiosity and inquiry in young learnings to inspire lifelong learning.
The ELC is designed in response to ongoing research in the field of early childhood learning and careful study of the Reggio Emilia model of self-directed, experiential learning. Rooted in the principles of respect, responsibility, and community, this approach echoes Harrisonburg’s literacy vision that encourages “meaningful tasks that engage students … in a continual process of constructing meaning through listening, speaking, reading, and writing.”
The two-story ELC consists of learning studios and support spaces anchored to a central promenade that acts as a community hearth for dining and hands-on learning. Communal ‘entourage’ areas engage circulation outside the studios to foster community and diverse active spaces. Paired learning studios encourage community within the ELC and help early learning develop incremental connections to the surrounding school context. Interior environments are designed to foster optimal growth and development opportunities for exploration and learning while offering healthy connections to the outdoors. Play areas and a roof terrace support creative play, active movement, and focused inquiry.
Collaborators
MEP Engineering: CMTA
Structural Engineering: Fox & Associates
Civil Engineering: Gay & Neel
Landscape Architecture: JJM Design
Contractor: Nielson Builders
Project Photography: Alan Karchmer
Additional Da
Enrollment Projections
Student-Centered Learning Model
Neighborhood Learning Model
Sustainability
The ELC incorporates a number of high performance building initiatives including reducing water and energy use, incorporating healthy low-emitting materials, promoting natural daylighting and abundant views to nature, and ensuring healthy air quality. The building’s high-performance envelope includes an energy efficient geothermal ground-source HVAC system. Systems are expressed and made visible to promote the building as a teaching tool. The project is currently tracking LEED Gold certification, and is modeling an energy use index (EUI) of less than 20.
Community Engagement
Co-located on the existing Smithland Elementary School site, the ELC features 2-stories and 9 learning studios with access to shared communal spaces and outdoor play and learning environments. With a current capacity of 170 students, the ELC was master-planned to support growth up to 350.
Working with a collaborative team of educators and administrators – including the Director of the ELC, the Director of Elementary Instruction, the Director of Special Education / Programs, and the Assistant Superintendent of Operations and School Safety – the design team developed the following planning and design objectives:
- Create child-oriented environments that feel like ‘home.’
- Facilitate family and caregiver involvement in the ELC.
- Provide durable, natural materials with various tactile and sensory qualities that are appealing and educational.
- Optimize passive design strategies for energy conservation, sustainable ecologies, and project-based learning. The ELC is tracking LEED Gold with an EUI of 20.
- Design inspiring indoor-outdoor spaces that satisfy age-appropriate needs for comfort, safety, and belonging.
- Create a variety of appropriate play and learning environments that promote physical activity, social engagement, and experiential learning.
With these objectives in mind, learning neighborhoods were designed to provide paired studios, connected to community entourage spaces for dining, art, and gathering, and supported by professional spaces, a range of outdoor playspaces, and active areas like the “Leap Lab” and “Hoot Hub” that encourage movement and literacy,
