Located at the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus, the Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center is an innovative facility that serves as both a dynamic learning environment for children and a teaching laboratory for future educators. Designed by RDG Planning & Design, the center takes a thoughtful approach to early childhood education regarding safety and curiosity-driven education and provides full-day care for children of university students, faculty and the surrounding community.

Reflective of the center’s commitment to inclusive, future-focused early education, RDG’s design supports various developmental needs and educational approaches by prioritizing flexibility, safety and sustainability. The center’s 11 classrooms can accommodate up to 176 children. Each room provides ample natural light via large windows, as well as easy indoor-outdoor access to age-appropriate playground classrooms — a connection that enhances children’s sensory engagement and supports active developmental learning.

The center’s interior design creates flexible classrooms that can adapt to various teaching styles and instructional needs and allow for continual observation. Corridors double as learning zones that support movement, play and interaction, while integrated activity areas outside of classrooms promote discovery beyond traditional modes of education. Similarly, vibrant colors, textures and natural patterns create a joyful atmosphere for the center’s young learners, instilling a sense of wonder and curiosity. RDG’s design also incorporates a multipurpose room in the center of the facility, which serves as a protected space where students can engage in motor skill activities, regardless of the weather. This room also serves as a professional development venue for early childhood educators, including students from UNK’s College of Education, enabling the university to extend its academic curriculum into a real-world setting.

Design: RDG Planning & Design
Engineers: Alvine Engineeringm Performance Engineering, Miller & Associates
Contractor: Hampton Enterprises
Photography: Thomas Grady Photography