Child Advocacy Centers, Cook County

The Courthouses in Cook County have been adding drop-off type childcare spaces to each of their facilities. Called Child Advocacy Centers, there purpose is to provide short-term care to kids who might have to accompany their parents to court. This serves parents that have no one else to take care of the kids and have no option but to bring them along. The centers provide care and activities for children ranging in age from six months old to young teenagers.

KOO was tasked to design centers for two courthouses that had yet to receive this amenity. In addition to typical architectural services, we also provide complete interior design, furniture selection, and managed the budget.

• Leighton Criminal Courts; at this location, a former snack bar area was built-out to create 1,700 square feet of space but due to space constraints, this drop-off center does not accommodate infants.
• District 3, Rolling Meadows Courthouse; at this facility, a former law library was built-out to create 2,400 square feet of space and serves all ages.

Each space has a theme but also a very tight budget which lead to some real bargain hunting when it came to choosing furniture and finishes. At the Leighton facility, the decor was colorful, vibrant, and whimsical with a nod to Doctor Suesse. For the Rolling Meadows facility, the theme was a bit more toned down with a design inspired by nature and alluding to Winney the Pooh or Peter Rabbit.

Role

Project Manager from the end of the Construction Document phase to the completion of the construction. Was the main contact with Cook County Capital Planning and the Office of the Chief Judge

• Firm: KOO LLC

More

For a profile of another childcare center at Altgeld Gardens, Go Here. For information on other educational and related work (including childcare, libraries and other civic projects), go to my Projects Page.