Making Sustainability Visible: Two Early Childhood Education Centers

Abstract

This post occupancy evaluation compares two early childhood education centers built in 2007 in two very different parts of rural Oregon by two independent Head Start organizations. Making sustainability visible was a goal for both these projects at multiple scales: building facilities that gave stability and visibility for programs for early childhood education, fostering environmental awareness and reducing energy costs. Research involved two cycles of evaluation: one in 2008 – a year after occupancy - and a second in 2012 – five years out. Methods included interviews with architects, clients and users, parent surveys and site visits for walk-throughs, observations and collection of environmental data. Findings validate key design principles necessary to the success of both projects that can inform future projects.