The Aquabella Child Care Centre is an innovative early learning facility located in the East Bayfront community of Toronto’s waterfront. This state-of-the-art center is situated on the main floor and mezzanine level of the Aquabella condominium building. Designed using universal design principles, the play area provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for children of diverse abilities and backgrounds. The space is thoughtfully crafted to nurture growth and development across all areas, offering a broad range of interactive and positive experiences. The center is organized into distinct areas catering to specific age groups:
Infant area (6 months to 2 years): This space is designed with soft surfaces to support infants learning to walk, accessible shelving for independent exploration, and separate food service areas to accommodate individual feeding schedules. Toddler area (2 to 4 years): This section focuses on promoting autonomy and independence, with age-appropriate furnishings and equipment that encourage active learning and play. Preschool area (4 to 5 years): Designed to support more advanced cognitive and social development, this space likely includes areas for group activities, dramatic play, and early literacy and numeracy experiences.
The design process for developing the play equipment at the Aquabella Child Care Centre was a collaborative effort between our team, PMA Landscape Architects, CS&P Architects, and the City of Toronto. Our shared vision was to transform the mundane mezzanine into a whimsical beach-themed environment that would captivate the imaginations of children. To achieve this, we integrated play equipment with vibrant murals and thematic surfacing, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. One of the major challenges we faced was designing the equipment so it could be manufactured in parts for easy lifting into the somewhat small opening of the mezzanine. This required meticulous planning and coordination among all parties involved. We worked closely with the architects to ensure that the play structures could be broken down into modular components that could be easily transported and assembled on-site.
