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Project:  SOUTH LAMAR OFFICE BUILDING 
Austin, Texas 
Client:  Any Baby Can
Child and Family Resource Center
Austin, Texas

Size: 19,000 SF 
Cost: Not Applicable 
Date: 2000
Services: Programming, SD

As two well-established Central Texas nonprofit agencies decided to merge, our firm was brought into the process to design a new office. We worked with both agencies to understand their program functions and make projections as to how the agencies would work under the same roof.

Working on a heavily wooded, narrow site with limited street access, our design solution divided the public and staff functions of Any Baby Can into two separate buildings, connected by a foyer and reception area. ABC occupied the entire ground floor, while the upper floor could be divided between as many as three tenants. Some of the key components of ABC’s program included: visual access to a secure playground; a large classroom with attached kitchen; a family resource center; and ample storage for a variety of household goods for clients.

Open office space in the staff wing encouraged informal collaboration among staff members from each of the individual grant programs. The new building embodied the agency’s philosophy of becoming a "one-stop shopping center" for families of children with a diverse variety of needs.

Sustainable design features include: daylighting; rainwater collection; operable windows; outdoor porches and balconies; reflective roof; regional building materials; and sensitivity to existing landscape.

Elevation facing Lamar Blvd. offers a comforting image for families seeking guidance and assistance for their children with developmental delays and chronic illnesses.

"Bubble" diagram shows the extensive programming required to bring the functions of two nonprofit organizations together.

 

The floor plan reflects the functional groupings derived from the bubble diagram (above). The private office areas (left) may be secured while classes take place in the public wing (right) in the evening and on weekends. Siting was also dictated by a stunning grove of mature oak trees.

 

 
   
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