Dr. David Hicks Early Childhood Center

At NISD’s Early Childhood Center (ECC), three- and four-year-olds develop into lifelong learners through exploration, education, and play in a safe, colorful environment. The inclusive, welcoming facility invokes wonderment and sparks imagination through a blend of traditional and experiential learning spaces organized around seasonal themes.

Half of the educational spaces are interactive learning exhibits centered around learning objectives and interactive displays. The other half are traditional classrooms, including an integrated ECSE room. These spaces surround multipurpose common areas, forming four neighborhoods that serve as each student’s home-away-from-home. In conjunction with the color of the walls, ceiling baffles and light fixtures modeled after snowflakes, leaves, flowers, and clouds establish seasonal themes for each neighborhood.

At the center of the facility is an interior courtyard that provides a protected environment for outdoor activities and education. A continuous corridor loops around this space and the adjacent library, branching into the themed neighborhoods, an activity gym that houses a tornado shelter, a daycare for children of district employees, and various administrative and support spaces.