Oklahoma City

Educare

A covered "front porch" on this bulding serves as an invitation for the community to take advantage of facilities such as a large training room and multi-purpose space. The porch's benches, plantings and lighting give a more residential feel to the facility.   The building site is a reclaimed brownfield in a residential neighborhood that was originally used, like most of Oklahoma City, as a site for multiple oil derricks. The site includes storm water detention areas to drastically reduce the amount of runoff and control water issues which have plagued the neighborhood. The building envelope contains highly-insulated walls and roofs with several different finish materials, including local brick.Glazing systems are designed to allow for great views while still controlling solar heat. At areas of extreme exposure, such as the large window areas at the south wall of the multi-purpose room, semi-opaque film (second surface of the exterior pane) is used as a cost-effective solar glare control technique. East and west facing glazing is protected by deep overhangs. At grade level, much of this glazing occurs at covered porch areas serving the primary purpose of allowing outdoor play for the children year round.