Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School needed space to welcome approximately 300 more students. A nearby property presented an opportunity to create a second campus for their youngest learners, from pre-K3 through kindergarten. The School engaged us to provide programming and feasibility studies, design, and delivery of a new Early Years campus.
Our team wove Feng Shui principles across the building, entries, and site. Drawing on this design spirit, we created a sense of harmony that complimented LEED Platinum-certified sustainability across the site, particularly in the use of interior daylight and views of the landscape. The campus features high-efficiency building systems, water-conserving strategies, daylight harvesting, ongoing performance monitoring, a green roof, and bioretention infrastructure. We utilized whole-building energy modeling to inform design decisions for a projected 40 percent reduction in energy use, compared with a code-compliant baseline. To address the additional challenge of a nearly 32-foot (9.75-metre) elevation change, we used the slope to create walkout learning environments and outdoor play areas that wrap around the three-story, approximately 30,000 square-foot (2,787 square-metre) building.
Flexible classrooms, shared learning and collaboration spaces support both independent and team-based instruction. Daylight-filled interiors, extensive interior glazing, and clear visual connections enhance supervision, flexibility, and student engagement. Breakout spaces, project display areas, and technology-rich settings support inquiry-based learning, helping teachers create a welcoming environment for young learners.
The Early Years campus expands capacity while preserving the School’s Chinese-English immersion program, International Baccalaureate approach, and connection to outdoor learning. Together, Yu Ying’s two campuses provide room to grow while keeping the school’s educational and cultural identity at the heart of the student experience.
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