M&D Designers Help LifePath Conceptualize New Children’s Playroom

Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects and Interiors donated design expertise and prepared 3D concept images for a new children’s playroom at the LifePath Women’s Shelter, which will be aided by funds raised at Give Local York.

Flexibility was the key for Murphy & Dittenhafer Architectural Designer Harper Brockway and Interior Designer Lisa Clemens as they developed concept images for a new children’s playroom at the LifePath Christian Ministries Women and Children’s Shelter in York City.

The shelter in York served as a temporary home to 296 mothers and 347 children in 2021. Of those children, 268 were under 5 years old. The child-focused space at the shelter is a much-loved playroom tucked away in the basement.

While the space has toys, books, a television, and a well-worn sofa, it’s in need of an update that will better serve the room that doubles as a meeting place for moms and their case managers and a fun space for the children.

The M&D design duo wanted to create a timeless space that easily could be altered for an array of uses. While the current playroom is geared primarily toward children, shelter staff shared a vision of many eclectic activities in the same space.

“They saw this place as an opportunity to use it for what they are not doing now–movie nights, group activities,” Brockway says. “The shelter is showing moms how to be moms. Having a comfortable space to do that was important.”

With that vision in mind, Brockway and Clemens focused on incorporating flexible furniture that readily can transform the room layout for various uses. Their concept images they developed show teens doing homework or sitting on a corner sectional while children read books or play with blocks on a brightly colored carpet and others toss a ball with their mom.

“There’s a lot of cool stuff out there that is easily movable, kids' furniture that looks more like building blocks that even kids can move around to create different spaces in a room,” Brockway says.

Bright colors and a variety of textures fill the 3D concept images of the space, creating an inviting place for kids to learn and play. Brockway imagines children, teens, and moms walking into the space and feeling excited but also comfortable. Families who come to the LifePath Women’s Shelter often are leaving dangerous and traumatic situations. The new basement haven hopefully will be a safe space providing comfort — to which they will want to return.

“Kids are stimulated by colors and textures,” Brockway says. “Being able to provide that for kids is important. It creates a big difference for how they learn and play.”

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Brockway, who grew up in York, says she is honored to have the opportunity to help design the new playroom.

“Lifepath is such a great local organization,” she says. “They make a huge impact in York. They’re such great people to work with and they have such great ideas. It’s nice to be able to work with them.”

She’s looking forward to the positive impact that the updated playroom will have on the community.

At Give Local York on May 6, 2022, LifePath will raise funds to take the Women’s Shelter playroom project to the next step. Learn more at https://lifepathyork.org/give-local-2022/.

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