SAN FERNANDO : Architects Hired for Child Care Center

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has hired Mutlow/Jubany Architects of Los Angeles to design a child-care center at the Sylmar-San Fernando Metrolink station.

The MTA will hold an open house for the community to review proposed architectural plans and renderings for the center at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the San Fernando City Hall council chambers, 117 MacNeil St.

The one-story building, to be constructed at the southeast end of the Metrolink station, adjacent to 1st and Hubbard streets, is designed to accommodate a maximum of 70 children from infancy to age 5.

The MTA is searching for a state-accredited child care operator to run the center, which will be geared primarily to the children of adults who use the transit system on a daily basis, said Desiree Portillo-Rabinov, MTA project manager for the San Fernando Valley-North County Area team.

The center’s interior space will be approximately 5,000 square feet, with an outdoor playground of about 5,610 square feet. Its proposed hours of operation are from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The fee for using the center will be set after a study has been completed to determine how much the population of the area can afford to pay.

Officials would not reveal the center’s cost, but said it will be paid for by state and local grants. The city Department of Transportation donated the land.

“We’re right at the beginning stages,” said Portillo-Rabinov. “This is the community’s facility; there’s a real need for child care for commuters. That’s why we’re holding the open house, to bring the people up to date, answer questions and get their input. I want to emphasize that the final design has not been approved yet.”

Portillo-Rabinov said the architecture will be in the Mission style, to reflect the demographics of the local population--about 55% Latino, 33% Anglo, 5% African American and 5% Asian.

The center will include several observation rooms with wide windows, so children can watch trains arriving and departing from the station.

The final design and bid package will be completed by Jan. 3. Construction is expected to start in March, with an opening scheduled for September.