OU Architecture Students Reimagine UCO Child Study Center Playground

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NORMAN, OKLA. – Thirteen graduate students in the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma are helping bring nature-focused design to the Child Study Center at the University of Central Oklahoma. The project, part of the Nature Explore program, integrates native plants and natural materials to create immersive outdoor play spaces that foster children’s learning and connection with nature.

The initiative gave landscape architecture students their first opportunity to work with a real client, translating classroom concepts into practical applications. Through collaboration with UCO faculty, staff and students, and specialists in children’s play environments, the students developed designs that balance structured learning with free play.

“Nature Explore emphasizes immersiveness, incorporating natural elements that encourage children to touch, feel and learn,” said Leslie Palacios, Ph.D., a Teaching Fellow in the college’s landscape architecture program. “It’s more than just play – it is about learning through play.”

As part of their coursework, the students conducted site analysis, researched best practices and participated in a collaborative design process known as a charrette. This intensive workshop involved input from various stakeholders, including LaDonna Atkins, Ed.D., faculty in child development at UCO, who provided insight into the center’s needs. Landscape architecture students also met with children, teachers and Nature Explore’s Jill Primack to ensure their designs met certification standards.

“The process was a true partnership,” Palacios said. “Our students learned firsthand how to incorporate client needs while maintaining a cohesive vision for a nature-based learning environment.”

Each student created an individual playground design within specific parameters, including space limitations and the requirement to incorporate existing playground equipment. The final designs emphasized native plants, sustainability and interactive elements that support child development.

The project was facilitated by OU’s Institute for Quality Communities, which has been working with communities across Oklahoma since 2008 to enhance quality of life through design. “One of the institute’s main goals is to work on small-scale projects where students can gain hands-on experience while positively impacting local communities,” said Amber Wiley, Ph.D., the institute’s director.

Because the graduate students are not licensed professionals, UCO will work with licensed landscape architects to refine and implement the final plans. Palacios says the project was an exciting opportunity for landscape architecture students to see their ideas take shape in a real-world setting. “It was not just about designing a space but about understanding the needs of children, teachers and the surrounding environment. We hope this collaboration will inspire future projects that blend education, design and community engagement.”