The Child Learning Center Childcare has become a growing need in our society. The range of options available to parents in other parts of the country is many and varied. Our research into the Sahuarita community taught us that those options were lacking. There are only a few centers that take children and none that take infants. Visiting other WELS child care facilities across the United States guided our planning process. We determined the community’s needs and our financial ability at the beginning of the design process. The efficiency of a 2 story building along with the desire to have indoor play space, led us to design an 11 classroom building with a gymnasium which also serves as our multipurpose space. Because the CLC was intended to be part of the congregation’s mission, pastor’s office and the director’s office were both located in prominent positions off the main lobby of the CLC in order to allow easy access for parents and students. The lobby is a welcoming space with some artistic touches for both a cozy, yet modern feel. Most of the classrooms are similar in size and layout. The lower classroom benefit from direct access to the playground area, while the upstairs classrooms enjoy great views. The outdoor playground space is turfed and fenced. It has a section for the littlest of children to explore, while the playground structure serves the older children. We thank Freeport McMorran Mine for their generous grant to make this space fun and educational. We also want to thank the friends and families of the CLC for their various special gifts which enhanced and improved our building and program.
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