From the early stages of concepts all the way to construction. We teamed up with the professional architecture firm Emilio Martinez Arquitectos (EMᵃ) in the development of this educational project that is currently in the construction phase.

The project Early Head Start & Head Start Arenales came to be as a post Hurricane Maria Recuperation Project. After the devastating results of this hurricane a lot of Head Start Centers where severely damaged leaving a lot of communities in need of renovating or re-building these Centers. Seeing the need for creative spaces where children unfold their creative selves, play, learn, and grow as individuals this Head Start Center design came to life. 

This oval shaped Center encourages the never-ending energy and flow of children’s creative capacity. The Center features safe spaces for children in the early ages all the way until they are ready to enter their respective elementary schools. All classrooms allow for children’s constant view of the outside vegetations and at the heart of the floor plan a communal open playground space is located, designed as a multi-functional social area with access from all rooms to enhance the children’s connection to nature as well improve their interactions with other children. 

The Early Head Start and Head Star both feature their own respective professional kitchens as well as individual teacher’s faculties. Parents will be able to meet with teachers individually or attend group parent meetings in the Center’s integrated conference room and feel reassured their children are in good hands. 

Overall, the design goals of this educational project where successfully accomplished, children as the main character of this design will have a space to make their own and feel free to develop and unfold themselves in a safe creative environment. We look forward for this center opening its doors to children in the near future.