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Clara’s Little Lambs Early Childhood Education Center

Clara’s Little Lambs Early Childhood Education Center is a new childcare facility in Federal City designed to expand access to early learning through a clear, operationally driven approach. Developed in close collaboration with the client, the project translates realities of care (arrival, supervision, movement, and play) into a legible, child-scaled environment that supports both daily use and long-term community impact.

Category Education
New Build
Unbuilt

Size 13,500 GSF building area

Location New Orleans, LA

Year In Progress

Opportunity

Clara’s Little Lambs sought to expand access to early childhood education within Federal City while strengthening its role as a trusted, community-centered resource. The project responds to a growing need for reliable, high-quality childcare by creating an environment that supports both daily operations and long-term impact—serving families, staff, and the broader neighborhood. The opportunity was to translate the client’s mission of care, advocacy, and access into a physical environment that enables learning, safety, and connection.

Strategy

The design is driven by four core goals—well-being, equitable access, discovery, and integration—translated into a clear spatial and site-based framework.

To support well-being, the building is organized for clarity, visibility, and comfort. Classrooms are scaled to children and arranged to allow consistent supervision, while circulation is intuitive and legible. Direct access to outdoor play areas and controlled entry points create a secure and predictable environment.

To advance equitable access, the site is organized around a simple, efficient drop-off sequence that allows safe and intuitive arrival while minimizing conflict between vehicles and pedestrians. A visible entry and accessible layout reduce barriers for families and support daily use, while the building maintains a strong presence along multiple streets.

To encourage discovery, classrooms are organized as individual pods connected by transparent circulation spaces, allowing children to move through the building with a sense of orientation and engagement.

To ensure integration, the project unifies building, site, and operations. Stormwater strategies, permeable surfaces, and shaded outdoor areas support both environmental performance and daily use. An existing tree is preserved and incorporated into the play environment. Shared spaces are designed for adaptability, allowing the building to function as a community resource beyond school hours.

Through direct collaboration with the client, these strategies translate operational needs into spatial clarity.

outcome

The result is a child-scaled, highly legible environment that supports early education through clarity, safety, and ease of use. The organization of classrooms, circulation, and outdoor space simplifies daily routines—from arrival to supervision to play—allowing staff to operate efficiently while providing children with consistent environments for learning and development. As part of Federal City, the project expands access to early childhood education while also functioning as a flexible community asset.

Awards

The Team

Paula M. Peer

Gene Guidry

James Rennert

Kate Rovira E’Etessam

Sarah Simonson

Alexandra Pappas

Related Projects

James M. Singleton Head Start Center

Son of a Saint

YWCA of Greater New Orleans

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