La Petite Colline
La Petite Colline is an early childhood education center in Brooklyn that features a progressive Reggio Emilia inspired bilingual program in French and English. La Petite Colline is dedicated to supporting joyful, independent learners who are focused creators of their own environment. Inspiring, collaborative yet individualized spaces were developed in conjunction with the educational philosophy to allow access to intriguing toys and the educational gardens which ignite curiosity and empower children. Much as the spaces are designed for flexibility, the program curriculum is adapted weekly to the interests and needs of the classes and the children through careful monitoring and reflection in their operations.
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The two-story Landmark building was originally a candy factory, and then was transformed into an artist’s loft for the former owner, Jennifer Bartlett. From this contemporary artist’s studio, a two story center was developed, with two preschool classrooms and two toddler classrooms. The loft-like interiors, with polished concrete floors, exposed wood structure, and minimal but flexible interiors, retain the studio feel of the space. We adapted the building for handicapped accessibility, and delicately inserted code-compliant bathrooms and other facilities to provide the needed daycare infrastructure while maintaining the unique qualities of the property, with ample natural light and openness. A new egress stair accesses a side garden, providing an additional amenity for the children.
Client: Le Petite Colline
Location: 315 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Category: Daycares - Adaptive Reuse
Completion: 2017
Team: John Field, Sam Johnson
Photography: Ashok Sinha
Historic Preservation
When it comes to the delicate, nuanced process of restoring old buildings and finding new uses for them, experience counts. Building Studio Architects specializes in prioritizing the unique needs of each historic site we work on.