UCSF Childcare Play Area
A Purpose-Built Childcare Center for the UCSF Community
The 24,000 SF permanent modular facility provides a welcoming environment for early childhood learning, featuring 18 classrooms, seven playgrounds, and thoughtfully designed spaces that support children, families, and university staff.Client
University of California, San Francisco
Location
San Francisco
Services
Landscape Architecture
Supporting UCSF Families Through Purpose-Built ChildcareAshley McGraw Architects designed the University Child Care Center at UCSF Mission Bay Campus as a permanent modular facility that brings high-quality early childhood education and care to one of San Francisco’s growing academic and research communities. Developed in accordance with the University’s Master Plan and completed in 2018, the 24,000 SF center provides a welcoming, purpose-built environment designed to support the developmental needs of young children while offering convenient, accessible resources for university, faculty, staff, and families.
Expansive Learning and Play Environment for Every Stage of Early DevelopmentSituated on a 1.4-acre site, the facility features 18 classrooms, seven outdoor playgrounds, two dedicated art rooms, and a lactation room for nursing mothers. The variety of spaces accommodates children across multiple stages of early development, providing opportunities for learning, creativity, social interaction, and exploration. The classroom environments are complemented by thoughtfully designed outdoor space that extend the learning experience beyond the building.
A Sheltered Outdoor Oasis for Play and Exploration A central feature of the project is the playground and courtyard, which creates a sheltered urban oasis within the larger campus environment. Conveniently connected to the classrooms, the outdoor spaces provide children and caregivers with easy access to fresh air, active play, and outdoor learning throughout the day. The courtyard offers a protected setting for recreation and interaction while creating a meaningful connection between the indoor learning environments and the surrounding landscape.
A Lasting Childcare Solution Designed to Serve the UCSF CommunityAs a permanent modular building, the center delivers a long-term childcare solution that responds to the University’s campus planning goals while providing a high-capacity facility tailored to the needs of its community. At the time of its opening, the University Child Care Center at Mission Bay became the largest childcare center in San Francisco, and the largest-capacity center among the 90 higher education institutions operated by Bright Horizons. The project demonstrates how thoughtful planning and design can create supportive, accessible childcare environments that benefit both children and the broader university community.
