Early Head Start Ciales

Sited on a promontory overlooking the Manatí River Valley, just north of Ciales along PR Route 149, the project transforms a former funeral home of little architectural significance into modern offices. Adjacent to it, a new preschool rises on the existing parking lot, designed to embrace the site’s dramatic topography and panoramic views.

Considering the challenging terrain and the prominence of the surrounding karst cliffs, the preschool was conceived as a distinctive structure that responds to its environment. A panoptic, disc-like structure in exposed concrete is divided into twelve equal sections around a central playground. This open core ensures a safe play area for toddlers while allowing caretakers and teachers to maintain clear sightlines in all directions. Six of the twelve sections house classrooms, each with a private restroom and a small patio. The remaining segments accommodate the entryway, a multi-functional space, offices, and service areas.

To establish the preschool as the visual focus of the site, the existing building was stripped of its decorative elements, reinforcing its role as a neutral “background structure.” The new school is carefully positioned along a lateral axis, stepping back to create a shared entry plaza for both buildings. An exposed concrete portico frames the existing building’s entryway while integrating a staircase to the lower parking areas. New horizontal windows on three sides of the office building open to the dramatic views of the surrounding cliffs and valley, further tying the architecture to its natural setting.