Interior rendering of the after school care classroom

Peachland Childcare Centre

Location

Peachland, BC

To address a critical shortage of local childcare spaces in the wildfire and flood-prone region of the Okanagan, the District of Peachland partnered with hcma and the future operator BGCO (Boys & Girls Club Okanagan) to develop a purpose-built inclusive childcare facility offering childcare and before- and after-school care with a focus on climate responsiveness and honouring the unique ecology of the site.

Guiding the project through every stage of design, our team ensured that inclusive design, child experience and environmental resilience were central throughout the project from siting, to concept, and material selections to technical details.

Disciplines

Areas of impact

Learning environments

West section highlighting the voids within the space.

Rendering of the south entrance marked up with sketches of the landscape design and subsequent annotations. The annotations read, "After-school care: Active play circuit, quiet activity zone; Edible planting buffer; Flexible community gathering space/After-school art, craft, homework station."

Exceeding building code requirements for accessibility, this centre incorporates neurodiverse and sensory friendly spaces and features, prioritizes access to daylight and appropriate accoustic design—creating 104 much-needed spaces in a safe, welcoming environment where children can learn, play, and belong. BGCO’s operating model ensures that parents can head to work with peace of mind, knowing their children are supported, and the community can grow together around a facility that truly serves everyone.

Beyond provision of safe and stimulating childcare, the centre offers community support programs for adults and children alike. This family-centric approach to providing supportive places where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers and build positive relationships centers around BGCO’s vision that “All children and youth discover and achieve their dreams and grow up to be healthy, successful and active participants in society.”

Interior rendering of the future childcare centre lobby. A blurred woman is pictured with a child on either side with other children moving about.

hcma’s approach to designing childcare centres is grounded in lived experience—over 40% of our team are parents of young children. We bring that empathy into our work, backed by industry-leading expertise in inclusive and accessible design.

A series of massing diagrams showing how the building achieved its final form.

Wayfinding and signage

The wayfinding & signage for this facility bridges the interior and exterior learning environments and is inspired by the concept of "nature as teacher". It introduces organic motifs and playful icons, as well as an Okanagan-specific room naming strategy.