The Lilypad Childcare Center was established to nurture holistic child development through immersive, nature-based experiences. Designed to foster meaningful connections with the natural world, the center promotes children's physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth through play and exploration.
This transformative project reimagined an underused public park building, breathing new life into a forgotten space in the heart of an urban greenbelt. Located in Pippy Park, a 3,400-acre natural area in St. John’s, Newfoundland—one of North America’s oldest cities—the site is a popular destination for camping, hiking, and outdoor recreation.
Originally constructed in the late 1980s, the existing building—The Fluvarium—is a public environmental education center situated along the banks of Nagle’s Brook. Built from heavy timber, the three-storey structure features a distinctive octagonal floor plan with interconnected levels and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. It is operated by the Quidi Vidi/Rennie’s River Development Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to environmental education and freshwater ecology.
The building’s uppermost floor was initially envisioned as a public gathering space. However, over time, it had been converted into a series of underutilized, bookable event rooms. Multiple renovations had obscured the building’s original architectural features—its timber structure, cedar finishes, and views of the park—while also severing the visual and spatial connection to the lower levels.
In contrast, the lower levels remained faithful to their original educational purpose, housing vibrant displays, aquariums, and terrariums that highlight local fish and amphibian species. Among these features is an immersive underwater viewing experience of Nagle’s Hill Brook, where visitors can observe brown trout and salmon in their natural habitat through nine large observation windows.
Recognizing the potential of the space, the decision was made to reintegrate the upper level into the community and dedicate it to a higher purpose. The layers of previous renovations were carefully removed, revealing the original structure and re-establishing its connection to the surrounding park. The distinctive octagonal plan was used to guide the creation of individual classrooms, each benefiting from high, sloping ceilings and generous natural light. Every classroom includes direct access to the outdoors, reinforcing the center’s nature-based philosophy.
New interior partitions were designed to stop short of the original timber beams, preserving sightlines and structural clarity. Large, circular windows were incorporated into these walls to promote a sense of openness, interconnectedness, and belonging—reflecting the center’s commitment to child-centered, holistic learning.
