Step Two - The Plan: To make it work, we had to be flexible in several areas.

1) To keep costs down, we had to use as many volunteers from the church's members as possible, for several full workdays.

2) They wanted to keep the names and logos of their existing programs. There was a nicely done mural already on one wall.

3) There were two education pastors and a building manager to work with. Each had their own goals and budgets, but many areas of need overlapped. Fortunately, the pastors were entrusted with all the decision-making. They were all a joy to work with as well.

Step Three - Problem solving:

First Problem: The hallways were very long, very narrow, with only 8 foot ceilings, and no natural lighting. The ceilings were drop-tiled and only had standard flourescent lights. There were also many odd protrusions and indentions that covered internal supports. Everything was painted white, with dark carpeting and floor trim.

First Solution: Color blocking with paint. One side of each hallway was painted with a warm light neutral color. The other side was painted a bold and bright color. The protrusions/indentions were painted changing colors too. Now when you look down the halls, it appears much wider and brighter. We also were able to have their own workmen install some halogen track lights in-between the flourescents. This gave the whole area an exciting and dramatic feel.

Second Problem: The pre-school water fountain area was a big social gathering spot, but it was away from the main areas that would have most of the fun things we planned to do.

Second Solution: We painted a fun water fountain mural which went nicely with their "Preschool Park" theme and made it a more exciting area.

Third Problem: The grade-schoolers had to go through the preschool area before going upstairs to their own area. It could put off newcomers who didn't want to seem baby-ish. There was also a very drab and echoing staircase to go through with no windows and few lights.

Third Solution: We created a special entrance to the grade-school stairwell, that was like a secret hidden cave in the "park". The doors were slightly covered by a tree prop, and then painted to look like old rusted metal. The stairwell was painted as if it were the inside of a cave, with jagged stalactite shapes on the walls. The echo and the squeaky door suddenly became a vital part of the act.

Fourth Problem: The Preschool entrance lobby was large, but they were using two well-used, dark-stained wooden desks as an information and registration point. This made it difficult for parents when standing, to lean over and write. They didn't have a bulletin board, but simply used the walls to paste information and posters on. This lobby was also a playground for children during weekdays, as they waited for parents or friends. The church let many organizations bring children in throughout the week. As a result, the chairs in the lobby ended up as broken, mangled go-carts within a month after purchase. There was not enough storage in the desks.

Fourth Solution: We painted a welcome to Preschool Park mural on a large panel over the desk using an improved but recognizable version of their logo. We built a large circular garden/desk in the middle of the lobby. It has several large drawers and is tall enough that everyone can stand comforably and so stools are used without wheels behind the desk. There are also some short sections in this desk so that small children can feel like they are a part of what's going on too. We even built a real stone wall around the base. This desk is quite stable.

For a bulletin board, we created a custom-made kiosk such as those in large city parks. Then we also painted all of the walls with a colorful garden mural. Two garden benches were put in and the padded benches were moved to a much needed secondary location. Tree-shaped props, hanging clouds, painted ceiling tiles and even some colorful awnings over the doors complete the park theme.

Fifth Problem: Toddlers were rotated through an indoor play area with lots of fun wheeled toys. There were low windows on this second-floor area, and also the walls fell victim to weekly crash tests. The drywall was torn to shreds and the trim had little paint. Repairs were frequent.

Fifth solution: We put in a white vinyl picket fence, which protects the children from the windows, and also protects the walls and trim from the children.

Sixth Problem: Many walls needed mural painting, more than one person could do, and there were not enough artistic helpers. Mixing several artists' styles can also be a huge visual problem.

Sixth Solution: We made our own set of stamps and created a combination of simple background painting with lots and lots of stamps by many helpers. There are a lot of covered walls now, and all have the same style.

Seventh Problem: We needed an event to pull the workers in for two huge workdays and several half days.

Seventh Solution: We gave away donuts, coffee, and best of all, free custom t-shirts for every helper.

There were many other creative solutions to needs, but by now you get the idea, and maybe, just maybe, you're ready for us to figure out what to do with your own spaces. Please call and we can discuss whetever you have in mind. Ask for Dennas.

D-Square Design, 615-595-5572