Smith & Company Architects :: Projects

Houston Community College
Educational Development Center (Remodel of old DePelchin Children’s Center)

Completed: November 2004
Size:

Scope: Scope: The Houston Community College System purchased the 40,000 SF DePelchin Children’s Center building in 2003. This two level facility, located immediately north of HCC’s central campus, was originally built in the early 80’s, with a substantial addition in 1986. Smith & Company was hired to assist the system with the relocation of its Child & Family Center, a 170-child day care center to the building along with the Child Development program, an academic unit of the college. The Child & Family Center houses over 10 day care rooms ranging from Infants to 5 year olds along with an Art room and various areas for administration. The Child Development Department will house several large classrooms as well as a 40-station computer lab and library. Extensive renovations were required to bring the building up to the latest city and ADA codes. The entire interior is being totally redesigned to stimulate young children with brightly painted walls and hand painted murals.

The building’s HVAC system is being entirely replaced to tie in to the colleges new chilled water loop system. In addition to the aesthetic upgrades, a monitoring system will be added to the day care rooms to have real time monitoring of the children from the director’s office.

Completed in November of 2004 at a cost of less then $2 million, this project is considered Phase I. Smith & Company is currently beginning designs for Phase II, which will include converting the second floor into administrative offices and additional classrooms.

Consultants working with Smith & Company on this project included Marshall Engineering Corporation for MEP Engineering.