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An initiative championed at UMF, nature-based education is the intentional use of nature in all learning environments, which benefits children with physical and social/emotional development and confidence building. UMF IMAGE
Each age-specific primary classroom is represented by an iconic residential form – gable, gambrel, sloped roof or curved roof – that create welcoming entries to each classroom and are echoed inside each room as scaled down niches for imaginative play and gathering. Courtesy of CHA Architecture, P.C.

FARMINGTON —The new, state-of-the-art University of Maine at Farmington Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center designed by CHA Architecture, P.C., of Portland, has won a prestigious Maine AIA (American Institute of Architects) design award. The award was announced at a public event on May 9, and the Sweatt-Winter Center will be featured along with other award-winning projects, in the June Maine Home + Design magazine.

The vision for the new 10,000 sq. ft. center was developed over a two-year stakeholder process that prioritized the new space conveying a feeling of safety and comfort, similar to the security a child feels in their home, and to feature a connection to the outdoors and the natural world through a comprehensive focus on nature-based education. An initiative championed at UMF, nature-based education is the intentional use of nature in all learning environments, which benefits children with physical and social/emotional development and confidence building.

“The new Sweatt-Winter Center’s award-winning design speaks volumes about UMF’s commitment to providing quality child-care and well-prepared early childhood educators for families in Maine,” said Joseph McDonnell, UMF president. “In addition to providing top notch, nature-based childcare and education, the center’s unique lab school is preparing UMF students as the next generation of early childhood educators, leaders and professionals.”

The design project transformed a former call center on the UMF campus into an innovative facility that provides expanded access to nature-based childcare and early education for children from infants to early school age.

It is also the University’s vital lab school where teacher education students in UMF’s long-standing Early Childhood Education programs have hands-on experience becoming tomorrow’s educators. UMF students work directly with the center’s children to observe and understand children’s play, behavior, learning styles and developmentally appropriate teaching practices. Observation areas and cutting-edge, real-time digital observation capabilities create an enhanced learning environment for UMF students that can also be shared with satellite UMF Early Childhood Education program participants in the state.

The new building was designed to create 20 new slots for children in the Franklin County area, including a new infant program for children 6 weeks to 18 months and a toddler program for children 18 months to age 3, as well as increase enrollment in its undergraduate and graduate early childhood education programs by at least 20%.

Since relocating to the new building in October 2023, the center has welcomed dozens of children, introduced its new infant and toddler program, hosted a regional conference on nature-based playscapes and has spurred the addition of a nature-based graduate certificate program in the UMF education program.

Funding for the expansion came from voter-approved state bonds, Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan and Congressionally Directed Spending requested by the System and secured by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. The Lennox Foundation contributed $100,000 specifically designated for the outdoor nature-based areas.