Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center Wins AIA Maine 2024 Design Award

CHA’s remarkable transformation of a former call center into the Sweatt-Winter Childcare and Early Education Center has received a Citation Award in the Renovation & Adaptive Reuse category from the Maine Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This recognition is a testament to the dedication and vision of our inspired project team, whose hard work has brought to life an accredited nature-based center that is a model for quality childcare and early education in Maine.

AIA Maine’s Design Awards celebrate the ingenuity and impact of architectural projects across a spectrum of sizes, types, and clients. The Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center is featured on AIA Maine’s 2024 Design Awards website, and it will be showcased alongside other award-winning projects in the forthcoming June issue of Maine Home + Design magazine.

Located at the University of Maine Farmington, the Sweatt-Winter Childcare and Early Education Center serves a dual purpose, providing nurturing daily care for infants through six-year-olds while also serving as a vital lab school for students in the university’s teacher education program. Despite the challenges posed by the existing structure, our design team employed biophilic design strategies to craft a cutting-edge facility that offers a range of scaled experiences. From age-specific early childhood classrooms and outdoor nature-based playgrounds to undergraduate/graduate student classroom, every aspect of the center is design to foster growth, learning, and creativity.

The Sweatt-Winter Childcare and Early Education Center at the University of Maine Farmington was recognized during the Design Award Ceremony held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Portland, Maine.

About AIA Maine

Established in 1912, AIA Maine—a state component of the American Institute of Architecture—is the cornerstone of architectural excellence in the state. As the leading organization supporting Maine architects, AIA Maine champions leadership, advocacy, fellowship, and design excellence. For further information, please visit AIA Maine’s website.