COLTS CORNER DAYCARE

The Colts Corner Daycare project stemmed from a pressing community need. Following the closure of multiple in-home daycares in Belmond, IA, families found themselves with no childcare options, which prompted the formation of a non-profit organization to address the issue. Through collaborative fundraising efforts, generous donations, and support from the City of Belmond, the group transformed a former elementary school into a daycare facility. The renovation also included a large community room designed to host after-hours events, ensuring the facility could serve dual purposes.

Rippe Associates was tasked with designing a cost-effective commercial kitchen within the constraints of the building’s original footprint. The key objectives were to create a kitchen that could provide family-style meals to classrooms while also accommodating events hosting over 100 people. The design’s compact layout efficiently separated essential kitchen functions—storage, preparation, cooking, and warewashing—maximizing functionality within the space. This flexibility has enabled the kitchen to seamlessly support the facility’s operational needs and its dual-purpose mission.

This project faced significant challenges. Renovating an older building required inventive solutions to fit all classrooms and support spaces on a single floor. Budget concerns added complexity, as the project relied on donations and city funding. Additionally, the construction process unfolded during 2020-2021, a period marked by rising labor costs and supply chain disruptions. Despite these hurdles, the team delivered a flexible, fully operational kitchen on schedule, meeting the community’s needs from day one.

The success of the Colts Corner Daycare kitchen has had a lasting impact. Its functional and efficient design caught the attention of Sukup Manufacturing, who selected Colts Corner to operate their new employee daycare in Sheffield, IA. Rippe Associates was later entrusted with designing the Sukup facility’s kitchen, demonstrating how the innovative solutions implemented in Colts Corner continue to inspire future projects.