Porter-Leath Early Childhood Academy in Orange Mound is a community-centered, culturally rooted institution designed to serve and reflect the surrounding historic neighborhood of Orange Mound. By integrating local Arts and Culture into the buildings’ public spaces while providing interior and exterior spaces that encourage exploration, growth and play, The Academy demonstrates how Architecture can enrich and educate community members and reflect the cultural heritage and context its users experience daily.
Working in collaboration with another local institution, the University of Memphis, RDG Planning & Design and Porter- Leath designed the Academy to take an additional role in educating future early childhood teachers using observation rooms, meeting spaces and real-world experiences. The facility can serve a greater cohort of community members and college students, still providing classrooms and learning spaces ideal for small group interactions and individualized learning for the young children who attend the Academy.
Outdoor play spaces encourage exploration, physical development, and imaginative play. These environments emphasize the environment as an additional “teacher” that promotes child-led learning, allowing children to construct their understanding through sensory-rich experiences. By prioritizing children, educators, families and the community, this center promotes lifelong learning and strengthens foundational relationships for all involved.
