When given the opportunity to set a standard for excellence, Troy School District has chosen to set the bar high. They have intentionally offered exceptional opportunities for students, support for innovation, and commitment to continuous improvement to develop a collaborative community. This is why their goal to construct a new, transformative Preschool to serve hundreds of students made complete sense.

Throughout planning, the team considered each design choice through the lens of a 3- to 5-year-old child, accommodating the needs and curriculum of preschool students. This includes 26 large classrooms featuring natural light, large, open common spaces, and a literacy-rich flexible design. Whiteboard placement, display areas for student artwork, casework and furniture, and even plumbing are all adapted to young learner heights, making use easy for them.

In a school unlike other ordinary educational facilities, students can nestle into cozy nooks where the experience of reading or enjoying an outside view enhances their experience. They have areas to explore with purposeful colors that provide easy wayfinding for young learners. Interior and exterior spaces support gross motor development and flexible learning spaces adapt and stimulate student minds.

Research shows that exceptional early education improves literacy, and a literacy-rich environment gives students a foundation for learning. The design team worked with Troy School District to provide local families a space that offers this foundation to a significant number of students by giving educators room for instruction that kick-starts the District’s K-12 curriculum.