BROOKLYN, New York – The Movement Room, at the epicenter of the New York Small World’s recently renovated and expanded daycare center, is aptly named.

Designed by Efficiency Lab for Architects, the Movement Room to be an environment where children’s physical sensations can be fully engaged, allowing them to use their entire bodies and strengthen their muscles through crawling, running, and jumping. The custom interior playscape was fabricated using fire-retardant plywood by Situ Fabrication, a local company that according to its website “specializes in the engineering and construction of experimental and technically demanding projects.” The plywood is wrapped in impact-resistant padding with a high-grade, easily maintainable fabric.

The geometry of the undulating playscape seamlessly transitions from concave to convex. Rolling curves of the playscape wrap around to form egg-shaped niches where children can rest or hide within the flowing continuity of the playscape.

Efficiency Lab strategically positioned the Movement Room at the center of the floor to maximize access for students in all classrooms. The upholstered pieces form nooks and niches, curving around the corners and the columns of the space to support movement and experimentation. Children can rearrange many of the pieces to shape their own surroundings, allowing for a sense of active participation and direct engagement. Blue was chosen for the playscape to create a sense of depth and expand the visual boundaries of the space.

In addition to converting former office space into the Movement Room, the architect firm updated four classrooms with new lighting, millwork, and furniture. The redesigned classrooms integrate natural materials such as wood flooring. The walls are lined with tackable surfaces for children’s work to be displayed and to create an interactive learning space. The project scope totaled 4,345 square feet and also includes a new office, new restrooms, and corridors.

“Designing for empathy has been a key concept for all our school projects,” said Aybars Asci, founder of Efficiency Lab for Architecture. “For New York Small World, we designed a fun environment for social learning through play.”