Lummi Nation Early Learning Programs

The Lummi Nation Early Learning Programs Center provides a new building for a program that has been in operation for over 30 years.  The building organizes eight Head Start classrooms and four Licensed Child Care classrooms around an outdoor play area nestled along the boundary of a wooded wetland.  The building is laid out in an ‘L’ to recall a longhouse structure unique to the Lummi.  The building design was coordinated with the master plan of the new tribal administration campus.  This included our design of the vehicular and pedestrian access scheme, coordination of surface water management with shared detention ponds, and optimization of power, water, and broadband utility layouts.  A geothermal well-field is shared with nearby buildings to provide energy efficient heating and cooling.  The Early Learning program includes a story room, small group break-out rooms, physical therapy rooms to address special needs children and staff work areas to support Home Based Early Head Start programs.