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OLPS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
OWNER ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS LOCATION CHALMETTE, LA SQUARE FOOTAGE 12,000 GSF BUDGET $2.9 MILLION COMPLETION 2009 ARCHITECT OF RECORD MICHAEL HOWARD, AIA PROJECT DESIGNER SHELLEY OLIVIER, AIA (while employed by Performance Architecture) 
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PROJECT STATEMENT
The Early Learning Center houses the pre-kindergarten 3-4 year old, kindergarten, and first grade programs. Each classroom is equipped with its own washing station, storage closet, and direct restroom access. The classrooms surround the outside perimeter of the building, enveloping the central indoor play area, which features a mix of playfully colored acoustical wall panels for sound control. The classrooms along the north and south ends of the building feature continuous wall to ceiling storefront, inviting natural light into the spaces and transforming the exterior elevations into monolithic planes of glass reflecting the live oaks that surround the site. The two classrooms on the east and west walls, as well as the indoor play area, all have continuous clerestory storefront that brings light in along their sloped ceilings and draws the eye to the oak tree canopies above. The building’s material palette, consisting of red brick and flush seamed metal panels relates it to the existing buildings on campus, while its simplicity of form adds a modern touch. To the north, the metal panel and clear glazed walls open the classrooms up to a view of the playground and live oaks, while the main parent entry and drop off faces south. The brick parapet walls bind the standing seam metal roof at its edges, their linear punched openings echoing movement along the adjacent street. Light colored plaster-finished alcoves are seemingly carved out of the brick exterior, breaking up the heaviness of the brick, while providing secondary access out of each classroom.
The Early Learning Center houses the pre-kindergarten 3-4 year old, kindergarten, and first grade programs. Each classroom is equipped with its own washing station, storage closet, and direct restroom access. The classrooms surround the outside perimeter of the building, enveloping the central indoor play area, which features a mix of playfully colored acoustical wall panels for sound control. The classrooms along the north and south ends of the building feature continuous wall to ceiling storefront, inviting natural light into the spaces and transforming the exterior elevations into monolithic planes of glass reflecting the live oaks that surround the site. The two classrooms on the east and west walls, as well as the indoor play area, all have continuous clerestory storefront that brings light in along their sloped ceilings and draws the eye to the oak tree canopies above. The building’s material palette, consisting of red brick and flush seamed metal panels relates it to the existing buildings on campus, while its simplicity of form adds a modern touch. To the north, the metal panel and clear glazed walls open the classrooms up to a view of the playground and live oaks, while the main parent entry and drop off faces south. The brick parapet walls bind the standing seam metal roof at its edges, their linear punched openings echoing movement along the adjacent street. Light colored plaster-finished alcoves are seemingly carved out of the brick exterior, breaking up the heaviness of the brick, while providing secondary access out of each classroom.
PROGRAM
Six Classrooms @ 1000 s q. ft. each + Indoor Play Area / Art Center @ 1015 sq. ft. + Electrical, Telephone and Internet closet @ 68 sq. ft. + Faculty Toilet and Break Room @ 398 sq. ft. + Administration Office Space @ 266 sq. ft. + Lobby and Reception @ 375 sq. ft. |
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