The Seneca Nation’s Cattaraugus Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) is a family-oriented program with goals applying to students, families and the community. The $32.5 million, 88,000 sq. ft. complex in Irving serves a growing population of children.
The design of the facility stressed the importance of learning in a variety of settings, including classrooms, a cultural commons, interactive library and courtyard. Locating the new building next to the CCC maximized the potential of both facilities and expanded their use and influence for community activities such as tutoring, outdoor recreational and environmental programs.
The HVAC systems were constructed with slab heating systems in the classrooms and port cochere, ventilation and exhaust systems, and a direct digital building management and control system. All of the required power, fire alarms, low voltage, cable TV, clocks, and lighting throughout the building – as well as the façade parking lots and outdoor play areas – were installed during construction.
Both Allegany and Cattaraugus facilities serve as centers for childhood development and education, health services, and cultivation of the Seneca language, culture and traditions.
