The Preschool Ecosystem | Non-profit Education Case study

Turning a building crisis into a decade of stability for a cooperative preschool

A storm-damaged nonprofit preschool relocated to a better home over a single summer break with no missed school days, roughly double the space, and a financially secure future throughout the pandemic.

Outcome photo: Nonprofit Preschool building exterior, highlighting welcoming street-facing entry.

0

School days missed during move

2.5x

Usable space and acreage gained

4 → 6

Classes increased from 4 to 6,
with waitlists for 3 classes

2.8x

Property value growth
since relocation

The Problem

A cooperative preschool was in trouble. Storm damage had exposed a building that was too small to fix and too expensive to save. Beneath the immediate repair question sat deeper issues: long-term viability, regulatory constraints, fragile finances, and a community of parents, teachers, and board members who all needed to stay aligned. This was a whole-system problem disguised as a facilities issue.

The Ecosystem

Before proposing a solution, I mapped every actor and force acting on the school — and how they connected. Seeing the whole system made it clear that the right move wasn't to repair, but to relocate.

Preschool building, highlighting a human-centered service design project by Affinity Design to improve educational environments.

The Approach

I treated the school as one connected system — space, community, finances, and regulations — and sequenced the work so the school never stopped running. The move happened over one summer, coordinating every stakeholder toward a single decision-ready plan.

Affinity Design's human-centered approach to service design and UX architecture, summarized in 4 phases.

The Outcome

The school moved to a single-family home on a lightly forested lot with more than 2.5 times the acreage. The move was accomplished over one summer break with no missed school days. Operational continuity held throughout. Enrollment grew from 4 partly-filled classes to 6 full classes, three now carrying waitlists. The neighborhood became an active part of school life, and the outdoor space let operations continue through the pandemic. Crucially, the move was also a sound investment: the property has grown from a $325,000 lot to roughly $903,500, nearly tripling in value and anchoring the school's long-term financial security.

"Jennifer helped us find and prepare an improved space for our school. She saw the whole picture, kept everyone aligned, and set us up for the long term. We were so happy with the results."
- Kathy Foster, Former Director of Bothell Family Cooperative Preschool

What this means for your business

I take messy, high-stakes situations with many stakeholders and turn them into a clear, decision-ready plan you can act on, without disrupting the operation you're trying to protect.