UChicago Child Development Center - Stony Island 5824 S. Stony Island
UChicago Child Development Center - Stony Island Project Type: Day Care Center Year Completed: 2013 Location: 5824 S. Stony Island, Chicago IL 60637 Square Footage: 13,300 sf Grades Served: 6 weeks to 5 years Number of Students: 24 LEED: Gold
2
1M ile
METRA RAIL LINE
.5 Mi les
CAMPUS NORTH
S University Ave
E 57th St
.25
CAMPUS EAST
LABORATORY SCHOOL
CAMPUS SOUTH
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
s ile
MAIN QUADRANGLE
MIDWAY PLAISANCE PARK
M
UChicago Child Development Center Stony Island
JACKSON PARK
14
17
15
16
18
3
6 5
5
5
4
2
4
1
11
2
8
7
9
9
13
10
10
12
First Floor Plan
4
1
Entry/Waiting Area
7
West Playcourt
12
Neighboring high-rise Residential
2
Staff Office
8
Gross Motor Room
13
Neighboring Garage
3
Staff Lounge
9
Infant Classroom
14
Neighboring Elementary School
4
Transition Classroom
10
Toddler Classroom
15
Shared Driveway
5
Preschool Classroom
11
East Playcourt
16
Drop off Area
6
Food Prep
Support Services
17
Metra Rail Line
The building, with a z-shaped footprint, responds to the narrow infill site, optimizing sun exposure and leveraging direct connections between the interior and exterior. The siting of the eastern wing, situated within the shadow of the adjacent 19-story residential tower, preserves as much sun for its playcourt as possible.
Conversely, west of the tower, the wing is located to the north so that its playcourt can enjoy a generous exposure to the southern sun. The folding roof ripples over both wings, allowing natural light into the classrooms below. Unlike most green roofs, the one covering the east wing is readily visible from the ground.
Inspired by an adjacent historic landscape, the University of Chicago Childcare Development Center Stony Island integrates the natural environment with its architecture and child-centered curriculum. Instead of creating a place dominated by synthetic play equipment and primary colors, the design allows children to be immersed in the natural world to discover first principles first-hand. Consequently, the design emphasizes the natural landscape over the built-one, centered around two playscapes with a footprint larger than the building itself. The 13,300 square foot facility is more “lookwithin-me” than “look-at-me.” Rather than competing with the size or glamour of the adjacent University buildings, the focus of the center remains on the child’s perspective and outdoor play. Consequently, the richness of experience hugs the ground.
6
At the facility’s emotional center, formed by the overlap of the two classroom wings, families check-in by using a touch-screen monitor and connect with care providers. From this central location, children get a preview of their day: Fullheight windows reveal the east play court as the natural bark siding extends inside. The adjacent gross motor room, filled with an array of activities, has a wall of glass revealing the west play court. The folding roof ripples over both wings, allowing natural light into the classrooms below. Unlike most green roofs, the one covering the east wing is readily visible from the ground.
Those walking to the center from the south, encounter a six-foot high gabion fence on a berm along the sidewalk, with undulating lifts of white, buff, and dark green colored stones covered in climbing vines. As they turn toward the center’s main doors, huge glacial boulders line the meandering path,
completing a secure, but discreet perimeter for the east playcourt. Instead of appearing as an impenetrable fortress, the center offers up natural textures and scale in a way that keeps security in the background and wondering and learning in the foreground.
11
This project insists that nature, play, and learning should be seamless - during all four seasons. Children’s experience here should impart a curiosity for a lifetime of learning, coaxed by a rich range of natural textures, materials, shapes, sizes, events, and challenges. Natural phenomena, typically concealed within buildings, are left in plain view. Sisal rope clad “splash tanks�, located below each roof scupper, allow children to witness rainwater cascading. Wind, so prominent close to the lake, is evidenced in the rustling of the green roof, the swaying branches, and the droplets blowing from the rain chain. Children learn about their senses through interaction and hands-on experiences with nature. The two play courts offer an intentionally designed world of discovery for children. The eastern wing and court provide spaces for infants and toddlers, while the west wing and court are dedicated to
12
older children. Each age group has a dedicated indoor area with a door to an age-appropriate natural outdoor play area within the court. Low fences subdivide areas of the court allowing younger children to readily observe older children while ensuring the exclusivity of their own environment. If children learn what they live, they will not only learn from nature here, but they will learn to value it. The center is infused with this spirit. Additionally, the curriculum of the center is fully integrated with the mission.
“There are many appealing and original ideas in this building. The highly original use of natural material integrated into exterior play areas includes massive boulders and stone crib walls as security fences and bark as wall cladding. The simple linear plan of the building with its green roofs makes a larger than life gesture out of a relatively small program, reflecting the expansive lakefront park beyond. There is no plastic to be seen, in keeping with the philosophy of the school. The use of ‘real’ ‘materials, not just primary colors extends to the restrained.” - 2014 AIA/CAE Educational Facility Design Excellence Jury 18
1. Raised Garden Boxes
7. Sand Play
2. Green Roof
3. Splash Tanks Below Valleys
8. Tree cookies floored willow tunnel
9. Gabion Fence
4. Bark Siding
5. Clerestory
6. Solar Reflective Roof
10. Musical Chimes
11. Glacial Boulders
12. Permeable Pavers/Vehicle Drop-Off
19
Backfilled concrete foundations of the east wing; December 2012
Roof deck installation over the west wing; January 2013
Installation of the hydronic tubing for the radiant floors; January 2013
Wall studs installed along the West Playcourt; February 2013
Grading of the East Playcourt; June 2013
Final landscaping of the West Playcourt; June 2013
21
Clay study model of boulder placements; February 2013
Picking boulder number six
Surveying boulder number five in subzero conditions in Central Wisconsin; January 2013
Panorama of site at the start of the second day of setting boulders. The 100-ton crane was staged in the East Playcourt; May 2013
Off-loading boulder number five
Setting boulder number six
23
Energy Flow & Savings
Electrical Usage
Comparison of Energy Usage of U-Chicago Child Development Center Stony Island with that of an ASHRAE 90.1-2007 High Performance Analog. The majority of increased energy savings accrues from the intelligent operation of the building’s ventilation fans.
Comparison of the electrical energy usage of UChicago’s Child Development Center Stony Island with that of an ASHRAE 90 1-2007 High Performance Analog. The greatest savings accrue in winter due to efficient ventilation.
Comparison of the Energy Usage of UChicago’s Stony Island Child Development Center with that of an ASHRAE 90. 1-2007 High Performance Analog. The majority of increased energy savings accrues from the intelligent operation of the building’s ventilation fans.
50,000
24,000 280
40,000
20,000
240 30,000
16,000
200 20,000
160 10,000
8,000
0
80
-10,000
-20,000
12,000
120
4,000
40
Stony Elec
Stony Gas
Baseline Elec
Baseline Gas
Energy Delta
Primary heating
Water Heating
Cooling Compressor
Condensor Fans
Air Supply Fans
Pumps
Lighting
Receptacles
0
February CDD65
June
April 90.1 kWh
Designed kWh
August
October
December
0
Bioclimatic Design
Stormwater Management
Secure Exterior Playscape
The exterior wall framing was insulated behind the gypsum sheathing with spray foam to provide an air tight barrier. Furring strips for the exterior cladding, which were fabricated to minimize thermal shorts, were installed over insulating sheathing. A green roof covers the east wing, and a reflective membrane roof covers the west wing.
Impact of rain water falling on site of the U-Chicago Child Development Center before and after the construction for both 2-year and 100-year storm events. By reducing rain water runoff and allowing on-site ground water recharging, a site that formerly discharged 100% of its runoff to the City’s sewers will now only discharge storm water of rain water falling on the site of the UChicago Child Developfor 11% of theImpact storms occurring during an average ment Center before and after the construction for both 2-year and 100-year storm events. By reducing both rain water runoff and allowing two-year period. on-site ground water recharging, a site that formerly discharged 100% of
The amount of secure exterior playspace provided at the UChicago Child Development Center Stony Island exceeds code minimums and NAEYC standards for both staggered and concurrent use of the play courts.
The amount of secure exterior playspace provided at the UChicago Stony Island Child Development Center exceeds code minimums and NAEYC standards for both staggered and concurrent use of the play courts.
its runoff to the City’s sewers will now only discharge storm water for 11% of the storms occurring during an average two-year period.
7,000 100-Year Storm Designed
6,000
Provided
5,000 100-Year Storm Prior
4,000
Concurrent Play Requirement
3,0000 2-Year Storm Designed
Staggered Play NAEYC Requirement
2-Year Storm Prior
Staggered Play Code Requirement
2,000
1,0000
0
2008
2009
Heating degree days
2010
2011
Cooling degree days
2012
2013
0
2000
4000
Non Infiltrated Runoff (cf)
6000
8000
10000
12000
Infiltrated Volume (cf)
14000
0
2000 Area (sf)
4000
6000
8000
10000 12000 14000
Credits:
26
Owner: University of Chicago 5801 South Ellis Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 www.uchicago.edu v: 773.702.1234
Landscape Architect: MIG 800 Hearst Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 www.migcom.com v: 510.845.7549
Aerial Photography: Josh Duensing 80JD Photography joshduensing@gmail.com www.80jd.net t: 615.513.2989
Operator: Bright Horizons 200 Talcott Avenue, South Watertown, MA 02472 www.brighthorizons.com v: 617.673.8000
MEP and Civil Engineer: Primera Engineering 100 South Wacker Drive, Ste 700 Chicago, IL 60606 www.primeraeng.com v: 312.606.0910
Photography: Steve Hall - Hedrich Blessing 400 North Peoria Street Chicago, IL 60642 t: 312.491.1101
Architect: Wheeler Kearns Architects 343 S Dearborn St. Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60604 www.wkarch.com v: 312.939.7787
Structural Engineer: Thornton-Tomasetti 330 N. Wabash Ave, Ste 1500 Chicago, IL 60611 www.thorntontomasetti.com v: 312.596.2000
General Contractor: Leopardo 5200 Prairie Stone Parkway Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 www.leopardo.com v: 847.783.3000
Acoustician: Threshold Acoustics 141 West Jackson Blvd, Ste 2080 Chicago, IL 60604 www.thresholdacoustics.com v: 312.386.1400