Anchor Center for Blind Children's Julie McAndrews Mork Building embraces all
the senses so that the building itself is a teaching tool. It has special
acoustics, light and textures to enhance the children's understanding of the
world.
Welcome
The entry way has a spot to store strollers and car seats and a quiet area for
parents to connect. The Grand Hallway leads to all the classrooms and has
multiple way-finding tools for the children.
For example, the hallway floor alternates between wood and tile floors. The
tile floors let children know they are at the entrance to a classroom pod. The
children not only feel the texture change at the tile floor, but hear the sound
change as their canes and footsteps resonate on the different surfaces.
The Trail Rail on the north side of the hallway also guides children to the
classrooms. Notches in the Trail Rail tell children when they are nearing a
classroom.
The Light Walk on the hallway floor simulates natural light, illuminating the
way for children who see some light. Look above: Skylights glow in subtle blue,
yellow and red lights alerting the children to the three classroom pods.
Down the Grand Hallway
The first classroom pod, "Blue," has a Quiet Room, Infant Classroom, Sibling
Care Room and Children's Kitchen and Dining Room. Preschoolers "cook" and
"clean up" in a kitchen that is just their size.
The second classroom pod, "Yellow," has a classroom with a tiny stage, a Light
Room, Fine Motor Work/Art Room, Literacy Room and Eye Exam Room.
The Light Room, a perennial favorite of children and their parents, has
optimal lighting sources and high contrast to use vision in play. The Work/Art
Room encourages development of fine motor skills as children engage in messy
play. Exposure to reading begins in the Literacy/Braille Room, where children
enjoy story time under natural light in the Broncos Reading Corner.
The third classroom pod, "Red," features a large Motor Room with a hard wood
floor for tap dancing and a soft rubber floor for running, jumping, scooting,
rolling and crawling. The pod also has a delightful Tree House, Sensory Gym,
Braille Production Office and a sensory classroom called Benjamin's Niche.
Two sets of cubbies are tucked between the classroom pods. These custom
cubbies have hideaway benches, room for hanging a cane, and notches that tell
children which cubbie is theirs.
Light and Shadow
The Kaleidoscope Discovery Wall, the east wall in the Motor Room, has colored glass and nooks and crannies that beckon children to explore and learn the concepts of room and space. Outside it becomes Kaleidoscope Slope with planting beds, grassy play area and tiny benches.
The nature playground features the Sensory Garden, Cane Walk Lane, Braille Trail, Sunflower Garden and Greenhouse - all within sight of the heights of the Gazebo.
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