West Market Early Childhood & Education Center, Anderson School District 5

Awarded: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE, formerly CEFPI), Honor Award, 2009

West Market Early Childhood and Education Center is a model program for three- and four-year-old “at risk” children. McMillan Pazdan Smith designed a playful, safe, and nurturing pre-school environment to promote academic and social development within a new 42,000 SF facility. A v-shaped floor plan delivers a small building scale and concentrates administrative functions with a shared multi-purpose central core. A full-service kitchen and cafeteria complement a resource center and parenting library, designed to welcome and engage families in the educational process. Technology and security were key design considerations. A playground is nestled between classroom wings, ensuring appropriate faculty oversight in a secure and comfortable private setting.