Designing your Day-care Center playground: The 4 main steps

By Lisa MacLeod, Account Manager

Day-care Center courtyards require special attention. In order to design a play area that combines safety and fun, it’s important to devote the necessary time and thoughtful planning! To achieve a yard that meets your expectations and needs (and those of your little ones!), crucial steps must be taken from conception to Project.

1. IDENTIFYING NEEDS AND BUDGETS

It all starts with a visit from one of our advisors to discuss your needs, budget and current yard constraints. The advisor performs a summary survey of your yard and takes several photos to document as many details as possible, which will serve as the basis for your yard’s design. He then shares the information with thetechnical team who will work on your layout concept.

If your yard presents problems, such as water accumulation or inadequate slope, our technical team will find the best possible solution to correct the problem. If necessary, our project manager will visit the site to carry out a more precise survey of the yard.

2. CREATION OF YOUR UNIQUE LAYOUT PLAN

Then our team meets to target the right products for you, whether for synthetic surfaces, play structures, shading solutions, etc. It’s at this point that we let our imagination and creativity run wild to create a unique, playful layout tailored to your needs!

Our team translates its ideas into images by creating a first draft of your layout plan. The time between the consultant’s visit and the design of the layout plan is approximately 2 to 3 weeks. We usually schedule a 2nd meeting, either in person or via videoconference, to present our ideas to you. This meeting between your team and ours is an opportunity to discuss what you like best and what you’d like to change in our first draft.

3. FINAL PROPOSAL FOR YOUR DREAM YARD

We collect all your comments and return to the drawing board to make the changes discussed at the meeting. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. We then schedule a final meeting to present you with our final design proposal. Once the project has been accepted by your CA, we draw up a contract outlining the scope of work that Atmosphäre will take on under our turnkey formula!

4. INSTALLATION AND OPENING OF THE YARD

Depending on our manufacturers’ lead times, it will take between 12 and 16 weeks to receive your equipment at our warehouse. Our installation coordination team will then contact you to schedule thearrival of our installers for the start of work. Our installations usually take place between mid-May and mid-October.

Planning your new playground – or redeveloping your existing one – is a long-term investment for your Day-care Center. It’s worth taking the time to deliver a yard that meets the needs of your customers. For a well thought-out installation that will last over time, it needs to be designed by a qualified team and carried out by an experienced team.