The new Dakota Valley Learning Center is a unique learning environment that brings together early childhood family education, early childhood special education and adult basic education, replacing three separate facilities leased by the public school district.
Built on existing district property, this two-story building sits in a south-facing slope once used as a brush and wood chip pile. An open lobby spanning the two floors overlooks a rain garden to the mature wall of trees preserved during construction. The programs housed there share the lobby and adjacent meeting spaces and assessment rooms. Two classroom wings have small open gathering spaces that overlook the natural site and the design of all spaces are flexible and adaptable to navigate unforeseen program changes that suit the needs of the district.
The facility preserves existing mature trees on the previously underdeveloped site, blending their presence with the local landscape.