UChicago Child Development Center - Stony Island5824 S. Stony Island

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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

MAIN QUADRANGLE

LABORATORY SCHOOLMEDICAL CAMPUS

CAMPUS WEST

CAMPUS NORTH

CAMPUS SOUTH

CAMPUS EAST

UChicago Child Development CenterStony Island

JACKSON PARK

MUSEUM OF SCIENCEAND INDUSTRY

MIDWAY PLAISANCE PARK

METRA RAIL LINE

.25 Miles

.5 Miles

1 Mile

S U

nive

rsity

Ave

E 57th St

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Entry/Waiting Area

Staff Office

Staff Lounge

Transition Classroom

Preschool Classroom

Food Prep

West Playcourt

Gross Motor Room

Infant Classroom

Toddler Classroom

East Playcourt

Support Services

Neighboring high-rise Residential

Neighboring Garage

Neighboring Elementary School

Shared Driveway

Drop off Area

Metra Rail Line

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First Floor Plan

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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.

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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 “look-within-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.

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: Full-height 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.

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.

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.

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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 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.

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.

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“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

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1. Raised Garden Boxes 2. Green Roof 3. Splash Tanks Below Valleys 4. Bark Siding 5. Clerestory 6. Solar Reflective Roof

7. Sand Play 8. Tree cookies floored willow tunnel

9. Gabion Fence 10. Musical Chimes 11. Glacial Boulders 12. Permeable Pavers/VehicleDrop-Off

Backfilled concrete foundations of the east wing; December 2012

Roof deck installation over the west wing; January 2013

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Installation of the hydronic tubing for the radiant floors; January 2013

Grading of the East Playcourt; June 2013 Final landscaping of the West Playcourt; June 2013

Wall studs installed along the West Playcourt; February 2013

Clay study model of boulder placements; February 2013

Surveying boulder number five in subzero conditions in Central Wisconsin; January 2013Picking boulder number six

23Surveying 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

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-20,000Stony Elec Stony Gas Baseline Elec Baseline Gas Energy Delta

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.

Primary heating Water Heating Cooling Compressor Condensor Fans

Air Supply Fans Pumps Lighting Receptacles

Electrical UsageComparison 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.

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Energy Flow & SavingsComparison 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.

100-Year Storm Designed

100-Year Storm Prior

2-Year Storm Designed

2-Year Storm Prior

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Non Infiltrated Runoff (cf) Infiltrated Volume (cf)

Impact of rain water falling on the site of the UChicago Child Develop-ment Center before and after the construction for both 2-year and 100-year storm events. By reducing both 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 for 11% of the storms occurring during an average two-year period.

Bioclimatic DesignThe 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.

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Heating degree days Cooling degree days

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Concurrent Play Requirement

Staggered Play NAEYC Requirement

Staggered Play Code Requirement

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Area (sf)

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.

Stormwater ManagementImpact 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 for 11% of the storms occurring during an average two-year period.

Secure Exterior PlayscapeThe 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.

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Credits:

Owner:University of Chicago5801 South Ellis AvenueChicago, IL 60637www.uchicago.eduv: 773.702.1234

Operator:Bright Horizons200 Talcott Avenue, SouthWatertown, MA 02472www.brighthorizons.comv: 617.673.8000

Architect: Wheeler Kearns Architects343 S Dearborn St. Suite 200Chicago, IL 60604www.wkarch.comv: 312.939.7787

General Contractor: Leopardo5200 Prairie Stone ParkwayHoffman Estates, IL 60192www.leopardo.comv: 847.783.3000

Landscape Architect:MIG800 Hearst AvenueBerkeley, CA 94710www.migcom.comv: 510.845.7549

MEP and Civil Engineer:Primera Engineering100 South Wacker Drive, Ste 700Chicago, IL 60606www.primeraeng.comv: 312.606.0910

Structural Engineer:Thornton-Tomasetti330 N. Wabash Ave, Ste 1500Chicago, IL 60611www.thorntontomasetti.comv: 312.596.2000

Acoustician:Threshold Acoustics141 West Jackson Blvd, Ste 2080Chicago, IL 60604www.thresholdacoustics.comv: 312.386.1400

Aerial Photography:Josh Duensing80JD Photographyjoshduensing@gmail.comwww.80jd.nett: 615.513.2989

Photography:Steve Hall - Hedrich Blessing400 North Peoria StreetChicago, IL 60642t: 312.491.1101

343 S Dearborn St Ste 200 Chicago, IL 60604 · 312 939 7787 · wkarch.com