SCHOOLS + PLAYGROUNDS

CENTRAL PARK CHILDREN’S EXPLORATION GARDEN OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Lashley + Associates was approached by Cardinal Conley and Associates Architecture and the Glebe Community Group to develope a concept for a part of Central Park in Ottawa’s Glebe. The community group was interested in creating an area for children within the existing park. This children’s garden concept is centered around one primary theme: Exploration. Our objective was to incorporate inspiring areas of exploration and free-play for small children, unifying and linking the elements together into one cohesive area where they are fully free to roam and explore.

HURON EARLY LEARNING CENTRE OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Lashley + Associates was responsible for the site planning and play yard landscape design for the Huron Early Learning Centre, a toddler and pre-school daycare. The project was completed in 2010 although additional landscape and play works are continuing until 2012.  The concept was to create an ecological learning experience for children while incorporating fun activities that did not require structured play elements. The project highlighted the use of sustainable landscape principles and creative play areas that encourage interaction with nature and the landscape though topographic features, vegetable gardens, meadows, tall grass jungle gardens, frog bogs, and flexible play elements like bamboo poles.   The project has given new life to this early learning centre’s program that was previously housed in the basement of an apartment building.  The project recently won an environmental achievement award for sustainability for the City of Ottawa.

BERRIGAN SCHOOL OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Lashley + Associates designed the master site plan for Berrigan Elementary School (JK – 8). The parking lot and landscaping design was influenced by the existing trees and knoll; select trees and knoll were preserved through careful site planning and detailed design. In addition, the school frontage is highlighted by a naturalized storm water management area with a walkway leading children from the school bus drop off zone to the front entry of the school, allowing users to avoid the busy street.

AVALON SCHOOL OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Lashley + Associates designed the master site plan for Avalon Elementary School, which also featured a day care facility. The scope of work included: parking lots and walkways, a sports field, play surfaces, playgrounds, pathways, screening and landscaping. The site design provided an attractive frontage for the school while providing a safe and functional play area with extensive plantings and amenities for students.

HOPEWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAY-FIELD OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Lashley + Associates facilitated the much-needed update to the playfield in the yard of Hopewell Avenue Public School in Ottawa to address the issues of being an overused and undersized grass play field. Lashley + Associates proposed an artificial grass play surface and strategically located catch basins to address the critical drainage issues. Additional improvements including asphalt pathways, tree plantings, and grading for positive drainage now allows the field to be used for the desired school programming.