The new Early Childhood Center educates preschool through first grade. It replaced the previous elementary schools that no longer met current recommended classroom sq ft, and were undersized for the number of students. This and other projects in Little Miami School District’s master plan allow it to accommodate expected growth and house entire grade levels together for a unified + consistent experience that replaced the previous system which split elementary grade levels across buildings.

The team designed the school with steel + masonry, and with flexibility in mind to adapt floor plans for future needs. There are open, collaborative spaces as well as operable partitions to bring classrooms together. 

The Little Miami Early Childhood Center is a part of an overall district plan. Schaefer was also the structural engineer for an Intermediate School (turned Primary School) addition, a Junior High School addition and a High School addition.