HEAD START CENTER DESIGN GUIDE

5.4 Interior Environmental Quality

GSA guidelines indicate that natural lighting is essential in centers where children receive care. It is the hallmark of nurturing, quality environments for children. At a minimum natural light should be the primary means of lighting the classroom space, though natural lighting throughout would be the ideal. Locations without any access to natural light should not be used for new centers. The absence of natural light may be a prime consideration when contemplating a relocation of an existing center.

Classroom space facing south ensures that the maximum amount and warmth of light is available to the children during their day. In addition best practice indicates:

• When locating a center within an existing building, in no case should classrooms have a window to the exterior that is less than 8 percent of the floor area. Artificial light cannot substitute for the quality of natural light. If artificial lighting is needed to enhance natural lighting, it should include a variety of fixture and lighting types with high color rendition. See Chapter 10 for artificial light requirements.
• The designer should strive to have natural lighting coming from at least two directions. Window seats also are an effective way to maximize the effects of natural light.
• The center should not be located near noise sources, such as major highways, street intersections, railroad lines, or airport flight paths without mitigation. If proximity to high levels of noise is unavoidable, acoustical control measures are necessary as discussed in Chapter 10.
• Maximum acceptable noise levels depend on the area of the center subjected to the noise and whether the sound is continuous or intermittent. Children, and especially infants, are sensitive to noise, particularly unexpected or intermittent loud noise. See Chapter 10 for guidelines on maximum acceptable noise levels.
• The center should not be exposed to fumes or dust from industrial operations and vehicles, furnace and incinerator exhaust, mists from cooling towers, or other similar pollutants. Avoid placing centers near exhausts from food processing and waste handling operations, loading docks, or similar sources of unpleasant odors.
• The site should have desirable natural features, such as trees, south-facing slopes, and views of natural and pleasant man-made features or interesting urban vistas.
• The local climate should be considered when choosing a center location, including wind patterns and solar angles.
• Proposed major future construction projects within the building and adjacent to the site should be considered. If possible, locations that may have extended disruptive high noise levels and poor air quality should be avoided.