PBS 140 Child Care Center Design Guide - The Whole Building ...

CHAPTER 7:
INTERIOR SPACE
DESIGN
This chapter provides concepts and criteria for the design of
the interior spaces within a child care center. Major types of
spaces include entry and circulation, staff, classroom, common,
and service areas.
7.1 General Information
Spaces within the center can be separated into three major types, including
a) the classroom and common use areas used by children; b) the staff
areas used by teachers and administrators; and c) the service areas used
by people servicing the center. The entry to the center and main circulation
pathways unify these areas. Following are descriptions for each space
type. See the Finish Schedule for finish recommendations.
7.1.1 Entry and Circulation:
The entry includes the transition space, vestibule, and reception area where
parents, teachers, children, and visitors enter the facility. The main
circulation provides pathways between discreet functional spaces.
7.1.2 Staff Areas:
Staff areas include the director’s office, assistant or secretary work space,
staff lounge and work area, staff toilet, parent/teacher conference area,
and central resource storage.
7.1.3 Classrooms:
Classrooms for infants, toddlers, pre-school children, school-age children,
and mixed-age groups of children are specific to the group using the space.
These classrooms must have a variety of spaces to support the children’s
care and developmentally appropriate activities. Architecturally defined
spaces within classrooms include the entrance, cubby storage, classroom
and teacher storage, diapering station and storage, toileting and hand
washing, sleeping, nursing, and food preparation. The classroom should
PBS-140 - July 2003
CHAPTER 7: INTERIOR SPACE DESIGN
have an art sink, raised areas, and loft areas (though these level changes
need not be built in), and must have open, architecturally unrestricted areas.
7.1.4 Common Areas:
The center may have additional space, typically in a centrally located area
for use by children, teachers, and parents. This is desirable because one
beneficial “by-product” of a child care center can be a stronger sense of
community among those who use the center.
The center may also include a multiple-purpose space. The multiplepurpose
space may be used as a meeting or gathering area and as a
large-motor-activity area. If adequate outdoor play yard space is not
available, or if the climate in which the center is located is not conducive to
outdoor play during significant portions of the year, an indoor large-motoractivity
area must be provided. If lofts are to be located in this room,
applicable protective surfacing must be provided for the highest unprotected
deck of the loft or climber, whether portable or permanent (Ref: ASTM-
F1292-99).
An isolation sick bay, where a child will wait until taken home by a parent, is
best associated with the center director’s office. Where local licensing
does not require it to be separate, it should not be completely separate as
this may frighten the child. See Chapter 10 for ventilation requirements.
7.1.5 Service Areas:
The center requires space for services including food, laundry, janitorial,
and service dock/entrance.
7.1.6 Entrance and Circulation:
These spaces should allow for safe and convenient arrival and departure.
The character of the main entry is vital to establishing a friendly impression
for the children and creating a non-threatening transition from the parent’s
care to that of the center. Certain features will help promote this desired
impression: 1) The entrance door must be glazed with safety glass, affording
full visibility for children and adults, 2) Children should be able to see other
children in classrooms, as well as interesting displays from the entry to
help allay anxiety; and 3) If a reception desk is desired for center operations
(typically in centers over a population of 74), the reception desk should
allow children to easily see the adult behind it. It should be a simple desk,
not a high counter such as might be seen in a professional office, for
example. (The need for a reception desk should be questioned during
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