|
ATLANTA — After more than a year of research and planning, FIO360 announced plans to open its first eco-friendly child care center in Atlantic Station. The $3 million-plus "eco early care and learning boutique" is scheduled to open by February 2008. The new concept plans to offer many firsts to metro Atlanta families, including some of the most pioneering advancements in early childhood education, physical wellbeing and social and emotional development.
FIO360 (pronounced fe-oh) will be the first child care center in Atlanta, and one of the first in the United States, to offer the new Pyramid learning program; to meet green building standards; and to provide an entirely eco-friendly operation offering organic/locally grown food, natural/organic personal care products and earth-friendly cleaners throughout the facility. The center will also offer an above-standard caregiver-to-child ratio and a wide array of special amenities for children and families, including an interactive learning museum, on-site massage therapy, the first Family Concierge and a 9,600 square-foot rooftop playground, to name a few.
The 21,000+ square-foot FIO360 facility will serve 238 children ages 6 weeks to 6 years in its full-time care and learning program. The center will also offer drop-in care for parents who want to enjoy quality time in the city and back-up care for parents when their everyday provider is unavailable.
"The word 'fio' is a Latin verb that means 'to become' and '360' relates to wholeness or coming full circle, so FIO360 will be a place where children are nurtured to become their individual best," says Crissy Klaus, founder & CEO of FIO360. "Everything about FIO360 is centered on the philosophy that, in order to do the absolute best by children, we must become a mere extension of the family—partnering to maximize a child's learning aptitude, social and emotional interaction, and overall wellbeing."
FIO360's Key Features
In line with its eco-friendly values and family-centric philosophies, FIO360 will enter the Atlanta market offering several unique features, including:
- The Pyramid learning program: Developed by Dr. Jef Van Kuyk of the Netherlands (one of the world's most literate countries), this curriculum meets the highest national standards for early care and learning. The program is used to educate children in the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and India, and is currently being developed for use in the United States. Teachers are trained and empowered to use a four-step process to take children from basic understanding to more complex problem solving.
- Above-standard caregiver-to-children ratios: For every age range, FIO360's caregiver-to-child ratios will exceed Georgia requirements—with class sizes featuring half the state-required ratio in most classrooms.
- Green building and eco-friendly child care standards: FIO360 is making significant investments to create a green facility that will provide a setting for optimal children's health, including zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) painted walls; no PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic products; natural and organic toys; all-natural personal care products that exclude harmful chemicals; solar tubes to bring in natural lighting; floors that emit radiant heat; and earth-friendly cleaning products that exclude harmful fumes and environmental toxins. Also, Klaus specifically chose the Atlantic Station community for the first FIO360 center—a community that has established a reputation as one of the most environmentally-focused new urban developments in the country.
- Organic children's meals: All meals prepared in the on-site FIO360 commercial kitchen or purchased from outside vendors will feature locally-grown, organic, natural or hormone-free food, with an emphasis on whole foods and fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Children's & parent's massage therapy: Studies reveal infants who receive massage are proven to sleep through the night sooner, sleep longer and have fewer gastric problems. Research also demonstrates that massage on young children helps develop less aggressive behaviors. At FIO360, parents will have the option to register their children for a massage by a licensed and trained specialist at no charge. FIO360 will also feature a "Relaxation Station" where parents and staff can unwind and recharge with a massage by a certified specialist. Workshops for parents will also be offered to provide additional education about this emerging practice.
- Classroom technology: The FIO360 classrooms will feature active board technology that will be used for learning and will also stream family photos and video footage so that children can always feel connected. And, parents will have access to password-protected Web cameras to take a peek at their children throughout the day.
- Shoeless environment: To negate the dirt, germs and oils that shoes can track on the floors, FIO360 will provide children and staff with Fio Slippers to wear throughout the facility. Playtime on the floors is a core part of each child's discovery experience and shoeless settings help keep the floors clean and safe for children to crawl, walk, run and play.
- Interactive learning exhibits: A significant portion of the entrance level—a 900 square-foot space with 18 ft. ceilings—will feature interactive learning exhibits in a children's museum format. The "Imagination Station" will feature permanent "signature" exhibits as well as portable exhibits that will change to keep the space fresh and exciting.
- Rooftop playground: Today's best outdoor play spaces for children invite open-ended play and discovery in natural environments. Located on the rooftop, the FIO360 Magical Urban Playscape will present a space for children to play, wonder and create. With a protected rooftop setting (enclosed by an 8-foot fence) that allows children to view the wonder of Atlanta, this playground will feature various age-appropriate play stations and gardens where children can escape to a world of excitement and exploration.
Countdown to Opening
"As a conceptually advanced and environmentally friendly program and first-of-its-kind service for Atlanta families, FIO360 represents what Atlantic Station is about," said Jim Jacoby, president of Atlantic Town Center, owned by AIG Global Real Estate and Jacoby Development. "The beauty of this holistic program is that it provides a nurturing and enjoyable environment for children all day or for just a few hours as parents experience the best of Atlantic Station's growing retail, restaurant and entertainment options."
Community Bank & Trust, a longtime financial partner of Klaus, is funding 80 percent of the project construction. Randall-Paulson Architects is leveraging its expertise in the child care facility development space to transform the 21,000 square-foot space into Klaus' vision.
FIO360 will gradually roll out enrollment openings for full-time care, with plans to reach its full capacity of 238 openings by April 2008. The center is currently confirming its Executive Director and will begin accepting pre-enrollment applications in mid-October. For more information about FIO360, visit www.fio360.com.
# # #
|
