ready keiki preschool hub
Architecture: Hawai’i Off Grid Architecture
Principal: David Sellers
Project Managers: Jae Geun Yoo
Architectural Staff: Matt Kopp, Sophia Xiaojie Cao
In 2023, Hawai’i Lt.Gov Sylvia Luke announced the Ready Keiki program to build state funded prekindergarten hubs throughout the state of Hawaii and tasked the Hawai’i School Facilities Authority with the supervision. Hawaii Off Grid, as a local architecture firm on Maui, with the help of Shigeru Ban Architects, a Pritzker Award and AIA Gold Medal winning architecture firm, came up with a solution to build prekindergarten facilities in a more economical, more rapid, and more sustainable fashion.
The proposed prekindergarten hub is composed of prefabricated building elements: the box beam, wall panel, and roof panel. These lightframe wooden structures offer a distinct advantage over traditional concrete or steel, primarily by addressing Hawaii’s unique labor and logistical constraints. Because the system relies mostly on carpentry, a trade far more accessible in remote island communities than specialized masonry or welding, it significantly eases workforce recruitment. The resulting structure is not only lighter and easier to maneuver with a smaller crew, but also less susceptible to the construction delays often caused by island weather. Furthermore, while the timber is imported, it remains a renewable and compostable resource, offering a sustainable alternative to nonrenewable, imported concrete. By shifting a portion of the labor to offsite prefabrication, we can attract a new generation of workers to the industry while simultaneously training local on-site crews in modern, efficient assembly techniques.
The design of these prefabricated structural elements are also modular in nature, accommodating differently sized panels to be inserted to create gentle curves in the building facade. This feature of the design keeps sustainability and nondisturbance in its core, negating the need to uproot existing trees, buildings, and communities.
