tha architects | the early childhood brochure

AGILE

BY DESIGN EARLY CHILDHOOD

ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR DESIGN PLANNING

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

LEADERSHIP.............................................. 3

ABOUT US................................................ 8

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.............................. 18

C O N TA C T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9

LEADERSHIP F R O M L E F T: TODD C. HOWARD, AIA, LEED AP LARRY E. JANOUSEK, AIA

EDUCATION Texas A&M University, Bachelor of Environmental Design

REGISTRATIONS Registered Architect: AL, AZ, CO, LA, MS, OK, PA, TX, WI National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

CERTIFICATIONS LEED Accredited Professional

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Institute of Architects (Past President, Dallas Chapter) Texas Society of Architects National Association for the Education of Young Children Dallas Regional Chamber U.S. Green Building Council The Real Estate Council Greater Dallas Planning Council Dallas Arboretum Trinity Commons Foundation

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TO DD C . HOWARD, AI A, NCAR B, LEED ® A P P R E SI DE N T Ask any of Todd Howard’s clients, colleagues or employees to describe him and one motif emerges — he’s a driven leader. As the president of th+a, Todd guides a team of professionals who invest great effort and technical expertise toward each client’s success. And as a leader, Todd believes it his responsibility to look at a project from all angles — legislative, environmental and operational — and to think several steps ahead of his client’s needs. His goal is to see the vision for the project, partner the right talent with the client and create an exceptional environment for all constituents.

Todd is a passionate community leader and active in numerous professional and civic organizations. His longtime involvement with AIA Dallas includes service as president and public policy chairman. Todd was key in establishing the AIA Dallas Emerging Leaders Program, which later received a national AIA award for grassroots excellence. Todd has also served as vice president of advocacy for the Texas Society of Architects. A graduate of Leadership Dallas, Todd has been involved with several City of Dallas boards and committees, has served on the governing board for Doctor’s Hospital, and is currently active on the boards of the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake Conservancy.

O: 214.522.1100 C: 214.563.6511 E: thoward@thaarch.com

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EDUCATION University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Architecture

REGISTRATIONS Registered Architect: TX

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Institute of Architects Texas Society of Architects

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LA R RY E . JANOUS EK , AI A SE N I O R A S S O C I ATE | H EAD OF QA/QC Larry Janousek’s deep knowledge base and range of experience are just two of the reasons clients enjoy working with him. The thought leader of th+a’s education and early childhood development practice, Larry has built a strong career on the principles of integrity, client advocacy and quality assurance.

In his role, Larry guides and consults each education project from inception to closeout. His superior understanding of the entire design and construction process allow him to respond quickly to any issues that might arise during construction — saving the client both time and money.

Larry’s project experience includes facilities for schools and educational centers in Dallas, Richardson, Harlingen, Houston, Austin, Weatherford and Brownsville, Texas; as well as in Arizona, California, Colorado and Wyoming.

Larry also leads th+a’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control program, and has developed a proprietary quality assurance process and tools which allow the firm to deliver documents of exceptionally high quality and clarity.

O: 214.466.2719 C: 214.215.2031 E: ljanousek@thaarch.com

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ABOUT US

AGILE BY DESIGN T H + A’ S I N T E L L I G E N T D E S I G N P R O C E S S B E G I N S I N T E R N A L LY.

We start by building a strong and balanced team, guided by highly involved leadership and driven by creativity, critical thought and collaboration.

Then we provide tools – such as the th+a Project Process – to ensure that work is consistently completed to a high standard of quality.

Finally, we hone our efficiency through constant evaluation and improvement of our standards and processes.

T H E B E N E F I T TO O U R C L I E N T S ?

A T E A M W H I C H P R O V I D E S A G I L I T Y, C O N S I S T E N C Y A N D QUALITY IN DESIGN.

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OUR FIRM th+a (t. howard + associates architects, inc.) provides architectural, planning and interior design services for early childhood development and education facilities.

Our passion for this work is not a casual concept, not just a popular trend or interesting project type. It’s a serious commitment, and each new commission is a new opportunity to explore new ideas; to take a recent development and raise it to a new level; to realize a new vision. Our practical experience, in combination with a pedagogical vision, can be the source of new ideas for years to come.

As specialists in education facilities, we are continually evaluating and refining our design approach in response to new information, such as research regarding the built environment and its impact on children. We thrive on opportunities to create environments that stimulate imaginations, encourage exploration and add value and meaning to childhood.

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W E B E L I E V E I N. . .

FLEXIBILITY Facilities need to be able to support changing activities and programs. It’s important that the design supports children’s learning, exploration and curiosity without exposing them to unnecessary risk. Correct relationships between interior and exterior environments can allow kids to explore and experience, and create their own “world within a world.”

DEVELOPMENT The facility needs to support the developmental goals and philosophies of the caregivers and teachers: child-directed or caregiver directed? Bilingual?

Cognitive and social development? Informed design creates environments for appropriate development.

USERS OF ALL AGES Design needs to consider caregivers as well. By designing to reduce work-related injuries, providing caregiver development, resource and support areas, and considering health and disease control issues, a safe and healthy environment can be created for both adults and children.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE ADA, state licensing, fire, health, building codes, zoning, accreditation requirements, playground safety, NAEYC - a maze of overlapping jurisdictions that must be interpreted and incorporated in order to complete the project.

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SERVICES The diverse expertise of our team members allows us to provide solutions for a wide variety of needs. Our in-house offerings include the following: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT • Develop Master Schedule/Global Budget/Work Plan • Build/Lead/Manage Development Team • Manage Overall Process T R A D I T I O N A L A / E C O N S U LT I N G • Campus Planning • Project Feasibility Analysis • Site Selection • Site Planning • Functional/Space Programming • Facility Planning/Design – New • Facility Planning/Design – Renovation • Facility Analysis - Assessment/Evaluation • Sustainable Design and/or LEED Certification Consulting • Interiors Graphics Packages • Marketing Materials (Renderings, Presentation Boards, etc.)

• Various Project-Specific Services

PROJECT MANAGEMENT • Develop/Manage Project Schedule/Project Budget • Lead/Manage Project Team • Manage Overall Process 15

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PLANNING • Strategic Planning • Master Planning • Facility Planning INTERIOR DESIGN • Finishes – Facility-specific Selections • Finish – Standard Selections • Furniture Selection/Specification • FF & E Procurement ARTWORK • Coordination/Recommendation/Selection • Specification/Procurement C O N S T R U C TA B I L I T Y R E V I E W S • Facility Condition Assessment • Peer Reviews of Plans M OV E C O O R D I N AT I O N • Inventory Existing Furniture/Equipment • Organize/Schedule/Manage Procurement/Move Activities

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RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

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U C L A E A R LY C A R E A N D E D U C AT I O N C E N T E R LO S A N G E LE S, C A In UCLA’s strategic plan, campus leaders cited access to child care as one of the three most critical factors in recruiting and retaining top faculty, an essential step to maintaining academic excellence. The university engaged th+a to design a high quality child care program to support their strategic plan and to complement existing UCLA educational programs in early childhood development.

Given the urgent need and lack of suitable on-campus space, the design team worked to convert the fourth level of the Westwood Marketplace shopping center — the former site of a Longs Drugs store — into space appropriate for childcare use. The team worked closely

with the Fire Marshal and building code agencies to gain approval for the facility’s child care use. The final design provides light-filled, colorfully detailed spaces with a strong indoor-outdoor connection throughout the fifteen classrooms and administrative areas.

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The design team devised a number of unique solutions in order to accommodate the center’s program on the site. Most important was the need to provide a large outdoor classroom/play area for the center, which the team accomplished by repurposing a former retail parking area on the top deck of an adjacent parking garage.

Care had to be taken in detailing playground structures on the roof of the parking garage so as not to damage the existing concrete parking deck. Site-appropriate safety and comfort features included fall zones of EPDM matrix surfacing material as well as artificial turf for “green� play areas. Light-weight shade structures and trees in planters protect the children from the Southern California sunshine.

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P R I M R O S E S C H O O L O F P R E S TO N H O L LO W DA LLA S, T X Primrose Schools of Atlanta, Georgia engaged th+a architects in 2012 to prepare a feasibility study to potentially convert a two story 1970’s bank building in a prime North Dallas retail/residential neighborhood into one of their new urban concept early childhood centers.

The retrofit included expanding the first floor footprint of the old Texas Commerce Bank Building in the Preston Royal Shopping Center into space originally utilized as drive-through banking lanes under the 2nd floor. The result of the collaboration between th+a, Primrose Schools and their local franchisee, is an 14,580 square foot child care center for 204 children with two

ground-level outside play areas partially protected by the overhangs of the deeply cantilevered second floor.

The project required significant demolition of existing escalators and a large safe deposit vault on the second floor which were a part of the original bank design. In addition, the entire mechanical system was redesigned, and a new prep kitchen was added.

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G O O D S H E P H E R D E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L E A R LY C H I L D H O O D CENTER DA LLA S, T X th+a recently completed planning and renovation for the Kelsoe Cottage, which houses the School’s growing Early Childhood program. The renovation repurposed the facility to serve about 50 children from ages 3-to-5 in four sections for a full day program.

The renovation consists of the interior transformation offering an overall layout that is open and engaging. The program consists of four pre-school spaces connected to a central corridor that acts as the structure’s primary artery. The facility includes a kitchen that can be used as for culinary learning and demonstrations. The center’s

reception area is technology driven and ideal for interactivity between teacher and students. The classrooms facilitate learning and inspiration through a multimedia approach, offering learning and discovery experiences that will prepare students for a lifetime of learning.

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V O G E L A L C O V E AT C I T Y PA R K DA LLA S, T X Vogel Alcove, a Dallas-based nonprofit that provides free early child development services for homeless families, recently relocated its primary facilities to the old City Park Elementary near downtown. th+a is the architect behind the $6 million renovation of the nearly 100year old building. The move enables Vogel Alcove to expand services and consolidate operations.

The renovation includes nearly 50,000 square feet with a refitting of an existing 5,000 square foot playground area, the

addition of a new 4,000 SF infant/toddler playground and an enlarged 55-space parking area on the property.

The building includes classrooms, gymnasium, library, support areas, executive offices, and space for social services.

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JEANIE BORLAUG LAUBE E A R LY H E A D S TA R T S C H O O L JU B I LE E PA R K | DAL L AS, TX th+a designed the Jeanie Borlaug Laube Early Head Start School, a facility which will offer programs to encourage cognitive, social and emotional development for children from infancy through three years of age. The project is part of the Jubilee Park & Community Center and is located in one of Dallas’ most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Each of the school’s six classrooms is designed to accommodate eight children, and features expansive windows to provide the children and teachers with a pleasant view of the five-acre park at the center of the site. Three playgrounds are located just outside the classrooms, with direct access from each room.

At the heart of the building is a large, dividable multi-purpose room to be used for facility and community

functions. Five additional rooms will serve as spaces for health and family services, play therapy, and educational development. Additional areas include offices, lobby, reception, restrooms, teacher resource room, kitchen, staff lounge, and building support spaces.

All of the administration functions are located at the main entrance of the building, providing visual control everyone who enters and leaves.

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HIGHLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE C H I L D D E V E LO P M E N T C E N T E R DE S M O I N E S, WA Located on a forested corner of the Highline Community College campus, this early childhood learning center provides full-time care for infant to preschool-age children of the college’s students and staff. The th+a team designed the building footprint specifically to minimize the impact of construction on the beautiful Pacific Northwest site.

Modeled on a Reggio Emilio community concept, the individual buildings link to completely surround an interior courtyard, presenting a “village” of unique spaces for exploration and learning.

The central courtyard is used as an outdoor classroom, with places for nature experiments and plant gardens, and incorporates a reading nook surrounded by boulders.

Visibility of all areas is a key for security, but also provides a unique opportunity to serve as a working laboratory for students of the college’s early childhood education program. Each of the classrooms is paired to share support spaces like diaper changing, toilet training, storage and food preparation, and are arranged to allow convenient access for caregivers. Covered porches at each classroom create sheltered outdoor spaces adjacent to ageappropriate play areas which spill out into the wooded site.

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MEMBER

th+a is an active participant in professional organizations and research groups dedicated to studying the impact of the built environment on people and the planet.

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ACHIEVEMENTS AND RECOGNITION

AIA Dallas Presidential Medal – Todd C. Howard (2013) AGC Excellence in Construction - Brookhaven Head Start Facility (2007) State of Arizona Governor’s Achievement Award, Innovative School Design in Arizona Early Childhood Category - Catalina Foothills Valley View School District Learning Center (2008) AIA Dallas Chapter - Past President Todd Howard (2009) Quoin (AGC) Summit Award Best Project - Baylor University Medical Center Emergency Department (2008) TEXO Interior Finish-Out ($500K - $2M) Merit Award - Baylor All Saints Joan Katz Breast Center (2011) Organizations who have recognized th+a’s accomplishments include the North Texas chapter of the USGBC, the Associated General Contractors and the Office of the Governor of Arizona.

8th Fastest Growing Texas A&M Former Student Owned Companies (2007) North Texas Green Building Council, Excellence in Sustainability - Buzz Lofts (2006) AIA Dallas Young Architect of the Year – Todd C. Howard (2005) Greater Dallas Planning Committee Notable Project of the Year - Buzz Lofts (2005)

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C O N TA C T

C O N TA C T RUSSELL COOK O: 214.466.2727 C: 214.476.5435 E: rcook@thaarch.com

www.thaarch.com

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