Colchester, CT – Milestone Construction announced it recently completed a 3,000sf renovation and 6,000sf addition to a former bank building in Colchester. The newly-completed building is the third location for Town & Country Early Learning Center, whose mission is to provide a nurturing, educational and secure environment for young children. The new building is designed to support that mission by providing spaces that are created for the safety and comfort of the children that attend the center’s programs.
The project required a full gut of the old bank building and major upgrades to the site in order to accommodate the addition. A major challenge of the renovation included the removal of the bank’s safe which had to be taken apart piece by piece and disassembled in order to remove it from the building. New entryways were cut into the existing building to create proper egress and the drive through was sealed and filled in with matching brick. The existing asphalt surrounding the building was removed and underground drainage systems were installed and upgraded, setting the stage for the new addition and parking lot expansion. Bioswales were implemented as part of the landscape design to further help with drainage, and a new playground was installed for outdoor play.
Lobby
The interiors are designed to convey a playfulness that is intended to exude a safe and welcoming space while stimulating creativity and imagination. Natural materials, earth tone colors, ceiling lights shaped like clouds and tree sculptures with big green leaves (that double as acoustic panels) are a few examples on display and are incorporated into classrooms for all including infant, toddler and pre-school/kindergarten spaces.
Also on display are many safety features including child safe electrical outlets; child height water closets and sinks; centrally located changing stations with integral sinks situated so that care givers never take their eyes off of the children in their care; individually controlled HVAC systems for each classroom, providing heating, cooling and outside air ventilation; and a centralized “home-like” kitchen complete with appliances and outfitted with warm, wood cabinetry. Additional security features include a central entry lobby protected by a card access system, closed circuit security cameras and exit doors in each room.
The project began in November 2022 and was completed on-time and on-budget in August of 2023 in time to welcome children into the new space in the fall of 2023.
