LAUNCH LEARNING - MILLER ANNEX PLAY YARD

education DESIGN — early learning — community

Seattle, WASHINGTON

Since 2015, CAST architecture has worked with Launch Learning in Seattle on a number of projects in the initial phases of planning and design. CAST’s clear and insightful analysis of the feasibility of potential expansion spaces allowed Launch to avoid costly errors before committing to a lease.

In the summer of 2020, we worked with Launch to re-imagine the existing outdoor space at their Miller Annex facility on Capitol Hill. While this area technically meets the square footage requirements for outdoor play, its long, narrow configuration makes it feel much smaller. The constricted space is prone to collisions, facing directly onto a public playfield, it also experiences ongoing issues with theft and vandalism of equipment.

CAST’s out-of-the-box solution was based on the idea of making every intervention serve multiple purposes. Vertical gardens provide visual separation from the adjacent park while expanding the area available for educational and sensory materials. The floor of the narrow yard is sculpted into shallow terrain features that naturally slow running feet, creating safe obstacles for kids to explore while maintaining lanes for exiting and accessibility. CAST helped dial in the project scope in response to funding available through the City of Seattle’s SPP facilities grants and assisted Launch Learning in preparing application materials, including initial design sketches, conceptual construction cost estimate, and budget.

This project is currently on hold until the proposed work can be coordinated with Seattle Parks and Recreation, the building owner. Their normal operations have been severely disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.