Capilano University Fulmer Family Center for Childhood Studies by Public Architecture

The Fulmer Family Center for Childhood Studies at Capilano University is more than a building—it is a living classroom where 74 children, 125 future educators, and a coastal forest learn from one another every day. Designed by Public Architecture, the project showcases how biophilic, mass-timber architecture can align with the pedagogical values of the Reggio Emilia Approach while delivering Step Code 4 performance, one of British Columbia’s most rigorous sustainability benchmarks.

An Integrated Learning Environment

The Center combines licensed child care spaces with Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) teaching areas, creating a seamless relationship between care and instruction. This integrated model directly addresses a regional shortage of child care facilities while also serving as a hands-on training ground for future educators.

A defining feature is the Strada—a central, interconnected space that serves as the heart of the building. It accommodates daily routines, brings together all cohorts for communal activities, and acts as a curated gallery for children’s artwork, a key element of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. On the second floor, the Strada links ECCE teaching spaces and faculty offices, remaining visually and acoustically connected to the child care areas below. This arrangement enriches experiential learning, allowing educators to observe and interact with the children’s environment in real time.

Immersion in the Forest Setting

Nestled within a forested landscape, the building is designed to preserve and celebrate its natural surroundings. The mature woodland to the north has been retained as an outdoor play area, incorporating small structures made from materials gathered on-site. Each child care cohort faces the forest, with floor-to-ceiling glazing that dissolves the barrier between indoor and outdoor spaces.

On the second level, the ECCE classrooms extend this connection, offering uninterrupted views of the tree canopy through the clerestory skylight above the Strada. This direct relationship with nature encourages outdoor exploration, seasonal learning, and a tangible awareness of the local ecosystem.

Architectural Form and Climate Responsiveness

The building’s form is rooted in its West Coast context, with a linear profile and an expressive mass timber frame that reflects regional construction traditions. The roofline has been carefully tailored to meet the needs of its young occupants and the Pacific Northwest climate:

• Low edges and drip lines create a child-scaled perimeter and maximize solar access for the north-facing play area.

• Generous timber overhangs slope steeply to the south to shield office glazing from excess sunlight.

• Extended eaves to the north provide shelter from heavy coastal rainfall, ensuring outdoor spaces can be enjoyed year-round.

Celebration of Wood and Craft

Inside, the architecture celebrates wood at every scale. At the core, Douglas Fir glulam dendritic columns branch upward like trees, leading the eye toward the clerestory and framing views of the surrounding canopy. This arboreal motif strengthens the connection to the forest while adding a sense of warmth and familiarity.

Durable Douglas Fir panels and millwork line the child care areas, providing both visual continuity with the exterior and practical wall protection. Around the Strada, Douglas Fir pickets partially screen sound-absorptive insulation, helping to manage acoustics in this lively central space. Overhead, wood fibre acoustic panels are set into the coffered ceilings between the mass timber beams, balancing reverberation control with a natural material palette.

Storytelling Through Materiality

The choice of exterior cladding—charcoal-tinted cedar—is a nod to the children’s creative process. Inspired by their exploratory art curriculum, in which charcoal is made by burning wood and used for drawing, the design transforms an everyday artistic material into a defining architectural expression. The deep hue contrasts beautifully with the warmth of the timber structure, enhancing both durability and visual identity.

A Home for Learning, Growth, and Community

The Fulmer Family Center is designed not only as a functional facility but also as a community anchor. It embodies values of sustainability, place-based learning, and child-centered design. By blending educational spaces with natural play environments, it fosters curiosity, independence, and environmental stewardship from the earliest years.

Every detail—from the branching timber columns to the preserved forest play areas—reinforces the belief that the built environment can be a teacher in its own right. Through thoughtful integration of pedagogy, architecture, and ecology, the Center offers a model for how educational spaces can nurture both people and the planet.

Photography: Andrew Latreille Photography