Farmington Preschool Academy
Farmington Preschool Academy represents a major investment in early childhood education and the young learners of Farmington. The new 51,929 sf facility brings the district’s East and West preschool programs together on one purpose-built campus. With 23 classrooms and capacity for 500 students, the academy improves operational efficiency, expands access to specialized services and frees space elsewhere in the district for alternative and Career and Technical Education programs.
Designed for children ages three to five, the academy turns architecture into an active learning tool. Flexible classrooms offer dedicated areas for reading, art, building, quiet time and teacher-led instruction. These spaces encourage movement, hands-on learning, social interaction and independent exploration.
Child-scaled fixtures, classroom restrooms and intuitive circulation help children become more independent. Abundant daylight, low windowsills and window seating connect them with the outdoors. Warm colors, playful forms and environmental graphics make wayfinding easier and reinforce early color recognition. Clear sight lines and protected play areas support safety without limiting openness and discovery.
The design also responds thoughtfully to a constrained site beside an active elementary school and within an established neighborhood. Lowering the two-story building approximately eight feet reduces its perceived scale and helps protect neighboring privacy, views and sunlight. Carefully planned parking, bus loading and family drop-off improve circulation while minimizing community impacts.
Completed Early—and $2 Million Returned
Collaboration shaped the project from the start. Farmington Municipal Schools, FBT Architects, Jaynes Corporation and the full project team worked together to align design, constructability, cost and schedule. As a result, the team completed the academy three months early and under budget, returning approximately $2 million to the state funding agency without drawing on the project contingency.
Now New Mexico’s largest preschool facility, Farmington Preschool Academy provides an inclusive, engaging environment where young learners can build confidence, curiosity and foundational skills that will last a lifetime.
- 51,929 sf
- Programming
- Architecture & Engineering
- Landscape Architecture
- FF&E
- 500 Students
- Flexible Classrooms
- Multipurpose Space
- Age-Appropriate Outdoor Play Area
- Child-Scaled Fixtures & Furniture
- Daylighting Design
- Safety & Security
News
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