Developing a Vision for your Facility
First, review your centre's general vision (link back to Simon Fraser Vision Sample) above) and mission statement (link back to the Queen's University Mission Statements).
Your mission statement identified the main purpose of the organization and described what it does, how it does it, for whom and why. This will provide your building committee with a jumping off point to discuss a physical vision for the new centre.
Before you begin to think of your program design, set a time aside with the key stakeholders such as, children, parents, staff, board members and community partners (where relevant) to brainstorm what you want children to experience in their new facility. Write down statements and/or words that reflect the group's interest/needs in the new program and facility. Ask participants to draw and describe what they imagine the new facility to be like, what will be in it and how it will feel.
Write all the words and/or statements generated by each individual without judging or evaluating. Then go back to the group and seek consensus on those words or images that are important to everyone. The list may contain words such as fun, play, safe, nurturing, developmental, child friendly, welcoming, soft, bright etc. When the group has identified a number of mutually agreed to words, begin to write a value statement around each of the words. This is the process of creating a vision statement for the physical environment.
For example, you might decide that the centre will be:
- Child-centred with a view to optimizing developmental opportunities and individual exploration.
- A warm and welcoming place for children and families to play, learn and grow together.
- A house that offers integrated and seamless services to children while building a sense of community.
- Inclusive of children and families with special support needs.
This physical vision statement will be established by the building committee so that when difficult decisions need to be made, such as a reduction in design for cost savings, it is clear on what basis decisions will be made.
Based on these principles, your architect, in conjunction with the Project Manager, can assist you to determine the kind of space you will need for your project, any barriers that may be encountered and provide you with a cost estimate.
If this cost estimate is too high, you can use your vision to discuss reductions that can occur without compromising your principles. If not, you will have to consider going back to the drawing board to raise more funds. This vision can also help to make cost saving decisions if later there are some unanticipated cost overruns.
For example, if one of the principles is that child-centred areas of the facility should not be compromised by support functions, you will decide to make the cuts in areas of support functions, not in the child-centred areas.
- The goals are that the facility will be cost-effective to maintain over time.
- The budget choices might be:
- to reduce the quality of finishings such as the carpet, flooring and lighting fixtures
- to eliminate the walls between the nap room and activity room
- to reduce the kitchen to a kitchenette in the infant room and/or eliminate the outdoor play structure.
These may be tough decisions but knowing your priorities will really help the committee to make informed decisions.