Hort Woods' Facilities

Unlike any other child care center in the nation, the Child Care Center at Hort Woods was specifically designed to meet or exceed the highest level of sustainable building criteria, the USGBC’s LEED Platinum certification. The two-floor, 23,000 square-foot building features a brick, copper and painted aluminum exterior, and there are three natural, outdoor learning environments that were designed to accommodate the center’s varying age groups. The first floor includes 5 classrooms for infants and toddlers, shared and common spaces, a multipurpose area called the "imaginatrium," an atelier, a library, and outdoor patios. The second floor includes five classrooms for preschool children, family gathering areas, and library space. The center incorporates many sustainable features, such as natural ventilation, the use of recycled materials, rain-water collection and reuse, and natural day lighting to help conserve energy. The building’s sustainable design intentionally focuses on educating the young children who attend the center about the importance of conserving natural resources. The center’s three natural playgrounds help young children get in touch with the natural environment. Features include a custom climber, pull-up bars, musical instruments, interactive water features, and meandering pathways with special impact-absorbing surfacing material.