As part of the first phase of Appoquinimink School District’s Fairview Campus Master Plan, the 31,500 square foot, 330-student Early Childhood Center includes 2 Pre-K and 12 Kindergarten Classrooms as well as an Adaptive Classroom and Related Arts Room. The ECC is located off of the formal Green that is the hub of the campus, in order to promote a less formal and more residential feel for children transitioning from the home environment to school.

Two “Commons” serve as focal points of the floor plan, and include computer stations, instructional space, and “Story Steps.” Each classroom shares a breakout space with the adjacent classroom, with sliding “barn doors” to accommodate a variety of activities, but also to permit monitoring of the space from the classroom. A bay window in the classroom provides a home-like feel, and brings daylight and an outdoor connection to the story area.

The interior of the building is themed around the natural environment of the site, including decorative dried grass translucent panels throughout the building and decorative, marsh habitat, inlays in the library shelving. The exterior of the building recalls the architectural style of historic Odessa, while keeping a building scale in context with the adjacent residential communities.

Other projects at the Fairview Campus include

• Odessa High School

• Cantwell's Bridge Middle School

• Old State Elementary School

• Fairview Campus Masterplan