Amidst Buildings – Joyful Noise Development Center
Joyful Noise Child Development Centers, under contract with GSA, runs a fabulous childcare program on the bottom floor of a prominent federal office building in the Lloyd district of Portland, Oregon. The outdoor play space is in a courtyard, surrounded by offices where workers can watch and hear the sounds of children playing below.
A Riverscape
The ‘Riverscape’ design concept was intended to engage kids at this urban childcare center with the natural environment, to take advantage of Portland’s greatest natural resource (water!), and provide opportunities for all sorts of creative and open-ended play activities. We sought out to create a landscape that would be beautiful for adults and engaging for children.The final result is a playscape that is alive with greenery and the joyful noises of water flowing and children at play.
Construction
The project was constructed by a local landscape contractor, working in conjunction with Planet Earth Playscapes. Local artists and craftspeople also collaborated to create one-of-a-kind installations like the beautiful mosaic water table, and the cob playhouse.
