The successful renovation of the McLamore Center for children
If only all facilities for children in need could be like the McLamore Center, a facility operated by the Children's Home Society (CHS) of Florida. Located in Miami, the center houses a range of services designed to help abused, abandoned and neglected children and their families.
The McLamore Center wasn't always this vibrant and exciting. Its transformation into a place that is both welcoming and functional is a testament to the center's management, benefactors and the design team. The CHS, which will celebrate its centennial in 2002, has divisions throughout Florida, and has operated in Miami since 1925. The 12-year-old McLamore Center, which was named after the founder of Burger King, is a two-story 8,000-square-foot facility that serves as a 24-hour emergency shelter.
Two critical aspects guided the center's renovation: aesthetics and function. While these issues are driving forces behind many projects, they were particularly critical in this instance.
"Our space had served us well," states Lina Castellanos, executive director of the Miami CHS. "While we appreciated what we had, we knew that we could greatly improve the visual impact of the space from a child's perspective. At the same time, our staff was working under less than optimal conditions."
Castellanos notes that 30 or more children and/or their families visit the center each day. And while the CHS's mission is to "provide efficient solutions to build and
support healthy families for Florida's children," the center's design didn't facilitate the efficiency that was required to meet the mission.
"To be successful, we need to form both bonds and partnerships with our clients and with public and private resources," comments Castellanos. "Our former environment worked because we made it work. But like the situations of some of our clients, we knew that improvements to the space could greatly impact our success in fulfilling our mission."
A Soothing Solution
Interior designer Beatrice Pila-Gonzalez, ASID, B. Pila Design Studio of Miami, was initially retained to complete a feasibility study of the space. Pila's work on the project was sponsored by the Osiason Educational Foundation, a charitable organization established by Lee and Kim Osiason.
"Our goal for the feasibility study was to create a renovation plan that would fix the problems without blowing the budget," Pila says. "We had to offer changes that would increase the efficiency of the space and improve aesthetics without an excessive capital expenditure on the part of the CHS."
The space was previously very institutional in character, which was accentuated by poor lighting and acoustics. Pila's design salvaged as much of the existing design as possible, an important requirement from a cost perspective. To meet the identified project goals, new design elements and treatments were introduced into the space.
All client services are located on the first floor, including case manager offices, a study room, television room, a dining room and kitchen, storage and bathrooms that include a shower or bathtub. Nine bedrooms, which will accommodate two clients each, and a crib room for six infants also are located on the first floor. Offices for the center's administrative staff are located on the second floor. This organization, which was retained from the original design, provides a sense of privacy for the staff while facilitating the movement of clients from one service area within the center to another.
The overall design theme involves many elements found in the natural environment—stars, the moon, the sun, plants and the sea. Pila and her associates selected the theme for the soothing qualities that it would convey to users of all ages.
The existing tile on the walls impacted both the color palette used in the project and other design features. While the tile was very durable and easy to maintain, it also contributed to the poor acoustical quality of the space. Removing the tile would have been too expensive, so it was retained. An acoustical wall treatment was added above the tile and is covered in a material that is rug-like in quality. Other measures, such as new ceiling tile that was installed in a random pattern, further help to improve acoustics.
"The color scheme is very bright and engaging, a mix of blues, yellows, reds and greens that grew out of the colors found in the wall tiles," comments Pila. "We were fortunate that these colors could work into a scheme that was both playful and colorful." The reception area features a custom wood reception desk. Behind the desk, a wood wall provides spaces that hold images of the center's clients, bringing a very personal touch to the space. The fabric used on the chairs and the couch, which appears in the reception area as a leaf pattern, is replicated in a different form on other upholstered items found in the center. The seating area to the side of the reception desk lies in front of a wall graced by a beautiful mural featuring a large orange tree surrounded by plants of varying types. The mural will acknowledge the donors that made the renovation possible. A sun in the corner, complete with sunglasses, provides a whimsical visual element.
Modifications to the stairway leading to the administrative floor were required to meet safety requirements. The existing metal railings were wrapped in outdoor awning material to prevent children from climbing the railings. This measure also adds a boat-like quality to the structure, which fits in nicely with the overall design theme.
Prior to the renovation, children dined and played in one room, a situation that obviously presented challenges for the staff. Separating these two functions was a key component identified in the feasibility study and required the conversion of two bedrooms to a television room.
The walls of the television room were wrapped in carpet to absorb sound. Overstuffed chairs provide a place for nestling. Stars on the columns, coupled with images of kites, houses, trees and other elements in the carpet, create a space that is both vibrant and relaxing. A custom television cabinet was crafted of varied laminated imitation wood and features magnetic door locks, which improved safety. Cabinet drawers, which were painted in accent colors used throughout the center, provide space for toys and videos. A storage cabinet on the wall, which also was crafted of colorful laminates, provides additional space for putting up toys and books.
The dining area lies adjacent to the television room. A combination of tables, both circular and rectangular, allows the staff to easily reconfigure and vary the seating within the dining area. The stars again appear in the ceiling, another connection to the facility's design theme.
Perhaps the greatest transformation of an individual space is the nursery. The nursery was previously very institutional and while it was safe, it was not what most of us would want for a child. The space is now hospital nursery-like in quality with a colorful border and vinyl flooring. Durable wood cribs, which Pila found from a very affordable source, replace metal cribs. (The addition of wood verses metal whenever possible was a key ingredient to adding warmth to the design.) The combination of new wall and floor treatments, coupled with the cribs, creates a dramatic and necessary transformation.
The administrative floor now features systems furniture, storage areas and conference tables, allowing the staff to work efficiently in a more professional environment. There may still be a few boxes around, but they are no longer the norm.
To address lighting concerns, Pila designed a custom wall sconce that houses two light sources. The sconces, which were connected to the existing junction boxes, have halogen lights that are directed upward and fluorescent lights that are directed downward. The result is a much brighter environment.
Operations obviously had to be maintained during the renovation, a requirement that was not possible within the confines of the existing structure. Services were temporarily moved to another nearby CHS facility while administrative functions maintained operations on the second floor.
Contributions and Collaborations
This project was a wonderful collaboration and contribution of many talents from start to finish. Like Pila's work on the feasibility study, the CHS received a wonderful donation from developer Marty Marguilles, who donated construction services for the project.
Pila notes that the quality of the project, and its ultimate completion, would not have been possible without the contribution of many individuals.
"The CHS staff was very involved in the process and allowed the design team a great deal of freedom in crafting a vision for the project. Manufacturers stepped forward and gave us reduced prices on systems furniture, carpeting and other design features that enabled us to achieve the quality of the space that we so passionately desired."
Designers measure success in many ways, winning awards and coming in under budget are two measures, achievements that Pila has realized on the McLamore Center. But success is ultimately measured by the client's reception of a project. And in this case, success is not the bottom line or reducing manufacturing time, but the light in the eyes of a child.
"All too often, we design a project and don't have the privilege of being in the space after our work is complete," concludes Pila. "The most rewarding part of this project is being in the center when it is in use and knowing that I've played a part in creating a safe haven for the children and families that are served there. Every designer should have the opportunity to work on a project like this at least once in their career."
User Comments:
No comments added
Add your comment
Fill out the fields below:
|
