Architect’s advice on the future of ECEC design: What developers need to know 

Sherif Saad, Principal Architect and Director of Sydney-based design studio ArtMade Architects, has 25 years of experience in designing early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across the country. 

During that time he has witnessed the evolution of the ECEC sector, and ahead of The Sector’s upcoming Owners and Landlords Forum, with a rescheduled date of 28 March 2025, he has shared his predictions of what lies ahead in terms of the future of ECEC design for owners, landlords and would be developers. 

Deploy design to capture a competitive market

According to Sherif, discerning parents and guardians have access to more choice and more intel than ever before. 

“In my view, the majority of today’s childcare centres provide a premium service,” he explained, “and therefore it’s becoming increasingly difficult for parents and guardians to differentiate between competing centres.”

Good design, Sherif believes, can be what gives developers the edge. While in some instances (depending on the complexity of the design) the construction costs may become slightly higher than when opting for more ‘affordable’ materials, in the long term this investment may pay off through higher occupancy rates and increased commercial viability. 

The power of good design in influencing parent and guardian choices in a crowded market, he believes, cannot be underestimated.

Community impact: Think outside the box  

In addition to an architect’s obligation to deliver a functional structure for developers, operators, landlords and investors, Sherif considers his remit far broader. 

“We also have a duty of care to the neighbours and wider community,” he says. “Always, our goal is to respect the surrounding streetscape with a built form that complements it.”

Unsurprisingly, traffic movement and noise are often chief amongst the concerns raised by residents who share a postcode with an ECEC service. Sometimes an innovative solution can be found to overcome such challenges – such as with Picnic Point Preschool and Childcare Centre, where Sherif’s team was appointed to design the architecture and interiors for the organisation’s childcare centre. 

To alleviate potential noise transfer from an outdoor play area, ArtMade Architects opted to position the play area on the building’s top floor. The practice worked closely with acoustic and risk engineers to realise this vision. 

“We designed that top floor in a way that maximises natural light, whilst also minimising overshadowing and the acoustic impact on neighbouring properties,” he explained.  

Sustainable design: Here to stay

According to Sherif, sustainable design is a must-have for savvy developers.

“Natural materials can be low cost and generate low carbon — it’s a win, win not just for our childcare centres but our cities too,” he shared. Over time, he’s convinced as more sustainability/energy efficiency regulations are introduced, the set-up costs to accommodate those measures are likely to become more affordable too.

He encourages developers to ‘go green’ and look at sustainable elements for interior design too. 

ArtMade’s architecture and interior design for the Arkie Early Education Centre, at St Ives in Sydney’s North Shore, incorporates a vertical green wall that redeploys the site’s rainwater for its irrigation. “This wall is not only visually appealing but imparts a valuable lesson about sustainability for our next generation,” he outlined.

Would you like to learn more about sustainable design principles in ECEC? Use this link to learn more. 

Information about ArtMade Architects is available here.