Appletree Christian Learning Centers breaks ground for two new West Michigan locations

Deborah Johnson Wood

Grand Rapids-based Appletree Christian Learning Centers, Inc. is well on its way to opening its 18th and 19th Michigan locations and the facilities are designed to meet the needs of children.

This week the non-denominational childcare and learning centers broke ground on its newest building near the intersection of Breton and Burton streets, Grand Rapids; last month the company started construction on another facility on 52nd Street SW near Metro Health.

"Our true focus is early childhood education, on what is best for the child," says Bridgett (Tubbs) Wohlford. Bridgett and her late husband Doug Tubbs founded the company in 1997. She and her husband Ted Wohlford now own the Monroe Avenue NW and the Rockford locations and have franchised the others.

Bridgett Wohlford spent three years visiting childcare centers across the United States, and then designed the child-friendly buildings with safety and learning in mind.

"The center has wide open space and lots of glass between rooms and looking outside, no there are no hidden corners," she says. "We have a camera system so parents can observe their children and the teachers from their computers at work. ROI Design worked with me on color selection, designing safe spaces for the children, and creating nurturing, warm spaces for infants and toddlers."

Entry is gained by an electronic thumbprint recognition system. Once kids are through the door, a tree house beckons them to climb into it. A slide gets them back to ground level so they can continue to their classrooms.

There are lactation rooms for nursing moms, low window ledges so even toddlers can look outside and soft colors that don't over-stimulate children.

The company has received inquiries from Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio, says Wohlford, and is considering opening franchises in those areas.

Ken Watkins of Architectural Concepts is the architect. Pinnacle Construction is the builder for the Breton facility. Boverhof Builders is the builder for the 52nd Street facility.

Source: Bridgett (Tubbs) Wohlford, Appletree Christian Learning Centers, Inc.

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Photos:

Courtesy of Ken Watkins, Architectural Concepts, Grand Rapids