The Nest is an in-progress preschool, situated in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church next door to the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Barbie Aguilar and Philip Pipal of the Science & Technology Studio represented Lionakis at the groundbreaking event and are continuing to work on the project as it moves forward. The team celebrated the ground breaking with brownies and ice cream, while practicing social distancing and wearing masks of course! Dignity Health is the driving force behind this project and we are teamed with Slater Builders and Perkins & Will in the Design-Build delivery method.

While construction is still in the early stages, the remodel of the facility will renovate 2,300 square feet of interior pre-school and administrative support space and further develop approximately 4,000 square feet of existing exterior play space. The facility will eventually provide early care and education services for up to 32 children aged 18 months to three years of age, and enrollment priority will be given to low-income families who are the most in need, with consideration for special circumstances like homelessness, parental incapacity and unemployment. As the Executive Architect, Lionakis is providing Construction Documents, submittal to the City of Los Angeles for approval and Construction Administration services based on concepts developed by Perkins & Will.

All interior and exterior spaces will be ADA compliant and the project is federally funded. Further expansion funds will be used to provide care services for over 40 pregnant women and children within surrounding neighborhoods who are in need. The full-day and year-round center is intended to be eligible for licensing by the California Department of Social Services Community Care (Title 22).

Stay tuned for project updates as this much needed facility progresses in Southern California!