Head Start Early Childhood Education
Health 360 is the realization of a joint vision between Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska and the People’s Health Center. This facility allows the partnership to expand its mission of providing a fully integrated, one-stop location for healthcare services for Lincoln’s low income and most vulnerable citizens.
A key component of this facility is the children’s care center, which was designed specifically with young people in mind. This space is unique in that it provides safety and security that meet regulations while also providing moments of surprise and delight. There are several integrated learning experiences created through exploration of the built environment, with key design elements in place to satisfy a child’s curiosity. The lobby reception desk features magnetic, writeable surfaces at a child’s height as well as a deep frame that serves as a step stool to allow preschool friends to pop up and say hello to office staff.
Interior and exterior windows were placed at varying heights to capture the intrigue of Pre-K-aged crawlers. The ceiling clouds and floor insets provide places to point out primary shapes and colors, as well as a hallway hopscotch element that serves as a popular transition space that encourages large motor skills. The cheerful colors and patterns help to disguise features that children will not notice but parents and teachers will appreciate: materials selected specifically for their non-toxic nature that offer a high level of durability and stand up to daily sanitizing procedures. The space also features specialty restrooms with right-sized fixtures for potty training and handwashing, with partition heights that allow for both privacy and teacher supervision.
Stats and Results
| Location | Lincoln, Nebraska |
