North Kansas City Schools Early Education Center
Kansas City, Missouri
LOGO LOUNGE DESIGN ANNUAL 13
Design Achievement
DLR Group's design for the North Kansas City Schools Early Education Center addresses the unique needs of early learners. The district's goal of consolidating its Early Childhood Special Education program in a single location, combined with the increasing demand for early childhood education, led to the decision to repurpose an existing Hobby Lobby & Price Chopper building. Given the substantial size of the building, it has been divided into seven distinct learning communities, each inspired by biophilic themes found in nature, such as honeycombs and butterflies. These learning communities provide smaller cohorts for students to interact and engage with, while still granting them access to the facility's numerous amenities.
DLR Group's design for the North Kansas City Schools Early Education Center addresses the unique needs of early learners. The district's goal of consolidating its Early Childhood Special Education program in a single location, combined with the increasing demand for early childhood education, led to the decision to repurpose an existing Hobby Lobby & Price Chopper building. Given the substantial size of the building, it has been divided into seven distinct learning communities, each inspired by biophilic themes found in nature, such as honeycombs and butterflies. These learning communities provide smaller cohorts for students to interact and engage with, while still granting them access to the facility's numerous amenities.
Scope Summary
The new facility will accommodate around 900 early learners aged 3-5, positioning it as one of the largest early childhood facilities in Missouri. Roughly 50% of the student population will consist of special needs learners, who are relocating from a smaller and less effective existing facility. DLR Group played a key role in the integrated design process, providing brand development services for the project. Various options for identity marks were explored, ultimately leading to the selection of a butterfly as the primary symbol. The butterfly represents the transformative journey experienced by the early learners. The resulting brand development package encompassed a range of identity marks, business materials, uniform and merchandise mockups, as well as a comprehensive brand guide to assist the faculty in future implementation.
