Sonshine early learning center

education DESIGN — early learning — community

yakima, WASHINGTON

Sonshine Early Learning Center (ELC) occupies the former pastor’s residence on the campus of Yakima’s Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and serves children from throughout Yakima’s West Valley neighborhood. Expanding their ability to fill the community’s needs serves both the Church’s mission and its ministry.

CAST worked with Sonshine to develop a plan to double enrollment through the construction of an addition to the existing building. This strategy has construction proceed in phases, allowing the existing ELC to operate without interruption.

The new addition will be located to the north of the existing ELC, creating a sheltered play area protected from the harsh summer sun and winter wind, and shaded by existing mature trees. The addition accommodates a secure facility entrance, two modern preschool classrooms, offices, and a family-resource room. Modest renovations to the old school building take advantage of its smaller-scale rooms to accommodate younger toddlers and infants.

This feasibility study was funded by a generous grant from the Design for Early Learning Capital Project Readiness Program.