Tumbleweed Early Childhood Education, Gen7 Modular Buildings, Dual Immersion Program Expansion

Palmdale, California

Firm

High Performance Learning Environments

Client

Palmdale School District, Early Childhood Education and The Department of Head Start

Area

20,574 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$2,269,572

Completion Date

03/2019

American Modular Systems, Gen7 Schools; Matthew J Davis, Real Estate Photography

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Palmdale School District Early Childhood Education (ECE) welcomes a full-day, dual-immersion educational program to the Tumbleweed ECE Site, complete with new Gen7 state-of-the-art learning environments.

On Sept. 14, 2018, the Palmdale School District broke ground at the site of its new program. Six months later, Tumbleweed Dual-Immersion Early Childhood Education School opened. With the addition of the Gen7 modular buildings, about 200 children ages 3 to 5 will have access to a full-day preschool program that will be taught in English and Spanish.

In order to accommodate 200 students for full-day classes, a campus expansion took place by bringing in five American Modular Systems Gen7 buildings. Five vacant, dilapidated buildings were demolished to make way for the Gen7 buildings and a bright new future.

Among the special features found in the Gen7 buildings:
• High-efficiency HVAC to provide a comfortable classroom that keeps students focused and alert.
• A state-of-the-art acoustical system that limits outside noise and absorbs echo, yielding a whisper-quiet learning environment of only 35 dB(A).
• Solar panels, efficient insulation, and smart lighting that enable the classrooms to supply 100% of their electricity needs.
• Tubular skylights and large low-emissivity windows that maximize natural light and protect occupants from ultraviolet rays.
“Research has shown that children who participate in…full-day preschool are the most successful,” said Donna Lebetsamer, former director of ECE.

Tumbleweed ECE Gen7 buildings were Lebetsamer’s labor of love and her final project before retiring.

At the ribbon cutting for the Tumbleweed site on March 26, 2019, Melanie Culver was introduced as the new director of Early Childhood Education for the Palmdale School District.