Lima Architects Inc. designs daycares, preschools and schools in California from our studio at 2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 100E, Santa Monica. We work across Santa Monica, Los Angeles County and Orange County, under California Architects Board licence C-41499.
Early learning spaces have to satisfy three groups at once: the city that approves the use, the state that licenses the program, and the building department that classifies the occupancy. We plan for all three from the first site visit, so the design you approve is one that can be permitted and licensed.
Lima Architects was design architect for Ohana Montessori, a 5,580 sq. ft. early childhood learning facility in Santa Ana. We set the design vision, organized the program so circulation between areas reads clearly, and oriented the building to connect the learning areas with the outdoors.
We also prepared the design documentation and led the entitlement process with the City of Santa Ana that allowed the project to proceed.
State licensing is handled by the California Department of Social Services, which licenses child care centers. Two examples of what the design must meet: a fire clearance from the local fire authority or the State Fire Marshal, and at least 75 square feet of outdoor activity space per child.
Our Burlington, Ontario studio has designed childcare spaces including Cedar Springs Child Care in Burlington, Taunton Daycare in Oakville and Spring Creek Daycare in Waterdown.
