The Children’s Center at Carolina Park

Mount Pleasant, SC

Carolina Park is a planned community which provides spaces for living, work, recreation, and education in a green and modern setting. The Children’s Center at Carolina Park provides the highest level of childcare for families in the area.

A central core containing administrative and common spaces anchors 2 classroom wings. The building’s orientation provides clear sight lines from the front door to student drop-off points, and creates a secure playground adjacent to the wetland buffer. Each classroom connects directly to the outdoors.

The classroom wings feature traditional Lowcountry materials and concepts including large windows, long porches, wood and brick detailing, shingle roofs, and metal canopies. Continuous transom lighting provides abundant natural light in each classroom. The entry hall visually connects the neighborhood to the play area, forming an inviting entrance and highlights the building’s wood and metal construction. Paving patterns, landscaping, and lighting accentuate the entry. The site plan allows ample stacking space for pick-up and drop-off, and divides parking areas into smaller lots to minimize site disturbance.