HEAD START CENTER DESIGN GUIDE

7.9 Design Features to Avoid

The following is a short list of center features that GSA has found to be impractical or not conducive to improving the environment. These are commonly observed undesirable conditions, and the list is not exhaustive:

• Excessive areas of fixed carpet.
• Sinks that are not deep enough.
• Shelving that caregivers cannot reach.
• Excessive space devoted to toilet areas, because separate areas have been provided for each classroom, as opposed to shared toilet areas between classrooms. Note that when separate toilet rooms are provided, ADA-mandated wheelchair clearances must be allocated in each toilet room. Thus, instead of providing clearance once in a shared toilet room, the same clearance must be provided twice. This is not an economical use of space.
• Cubbies that are lined up facing the classroom. This condition wastes precious classroom wall space and creates a chaotic visual impression.
• Solid interior doors that do not allow supervision.
• Inadequate or improper storage, creating crowded chaotic-looking classroom environments. Note that large central storage rooms will not solve a center's storage problems. Instead, wall-mounted cabinets and closets close to children's activity areas in the classroom are essential.
• Diapering areas that face walls and do not allow supervision while diapering.
• Diapering areas are not adjacent to sinks.
• Ceiling-mounted institutional troffer-type fluorescent light fixtures without dimmers and with poor color rendition, such as those typical of office space, together with a lack of other light sources for task lighting.
• The use of 90-degree or acute-angled walls where an obtuse angle would be safer and easier to negotiate.
• Windows mounted too high for children's use or, in existing space, without risers to allow accessing the view.
• Long dead-end corridors. The designer should strive to maximize efficiency and not devote areas to solely utilitarian circulation. Corridors that must be lengthy because of site configuration need stopping, cueing, and socializing areas.
• Inadequate natural light.
• Misuse of color and patterns. This includes over-stimulating, over-bright, or dark and oppressive wall colors and patterns. These mistakes usually result from relying on sample color chips. Color use should be based on large samples.