It takes vision to look at an existing retail store and picture a learning environment in its place, but that is exactly the innovative vision that The Barstow School had in mind. The Early Childhood Center entrance will be where the previous pharmacy operated, utilizing the covered pharmacy drop-off area for a dedicated secure covered entry. Flexible program spaces such as a STEAM workshop and lab, a maker space, black box theater, café and collaborative space will fill the rest of the building, serving as a resource for the Barstow community.

Due to existing site constraints, there is no room for an outdoor playground around the building. Instead, as a secure and innovative solution, there will be an outdoor courtyard placed in the middle of the building. This opens doors for controlled outdoor learning experiences and adds natural daylighting through adjacent glazed windows into classrooms. The wide indoor play area will host a sensory table and a commons collaboration area that bleeds into built-in manipulative nooks.