Photo by Tom Spitz Photography

The facility serves up to 175 children from low-income families in the neighborhood surrounding Phoenix's Brunson-Lee Elementary School.

Photo by Tom Spitz Photography

The facility is constructed of concrete masonry units with numerous clerestory windows in the classrooms for natural lighting.

This $7.5-million early childhood learning and health care facility serves up to 175 children from low-income families. The project's four concrete masonry buildings surround a central courtyard where kids can play safely in a 16-ft splash pad, sensory garden and tricycle path. The medical clinic includes exam rooms and labs to handle routine care and immunizations. When the project was threatened due to a delay in fundraising, the contractor issued a separate GMP for the site and utility work so that the project could be completed in time for that year's school enrollment. Designed to reach LEED Silver, the project incorporates pervious concrete, clerestory windows to flood classrooms with natural light, high-efficiency HVAC and solar hot water heaters.

Key Players

Contractor: Sundt Construction Inc., Tempe, Ariz.

Owner: Educare Arizona, Phoenix

Lead Design: RDG Schutte Wilson Birge Inc., Omaha, Neb.

Structural Engineer: A.V. Schwan & Associates, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Civil Engineer: Hilgart Wilson, Phoenix

MEP: Alvine Engineering, Omaha, Neb.

Submitted by Sundt Construction Inc.