Pine Grove Learning Center Building, Playground and Sensory Garden

Project Details

Client

Kent Intermediate School District

Location

Wyoming, MI

Scale

49,500 square feet

Cost

$8,500,000

Completion

2009

New special education facility for severely physically and/or cognitively impaired students and students with severe autism spectrum disorder. It contains nine classrooms for 80 students and 40 staff members. Many support amenities are included such as a gross motor room, therapy pool, and life skills, sensory room and outside garden and trails. Pine Grove is also adding another $4M expansion including a new cafeteria and additional classroom wings with completion in 2016.

Objective

Create play, social and sensory areas as well as easy access to shared spaces like gross motor, sensory, OT/PT and therapy pool for special education students within a confined budget.

Outcome

Working jointly with school therapists and staff, a playground and sensory garden were created. The playground provides play equipment for special-needs students. The sensory garden includes a unique water feature, wind chimes, specialty plants and textured pavement. Shaded play and sensory areas are provided for light/heat sensitive students. The center serves 70 severely impaired students with a variety of learning needs.