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How Learning Care Group Found a Builder They Keep Calling Back.

Built for Children. Built to Last.

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Matt Williams and Wes Arnold-1

Wes Arnold, the Project Manager-Construction & Development at Learning Care Group, manages up to 10 daycare construction projects at once for one of the largest childcare operators in the country.

Here's why Metrolina Builders keeps earning the next one.

Overview

Our Client

Learning_Care_Logo

Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, their portfolio includes more than 1,150 centers. Our relationship has been a multi-year, multi-project partnership focused on greenfield childcare facility builds.

Serving markets in North Carolina and Florida
Explore All Education and Daycare Projects Explore The Learning Care Group

Client

Learning Care Group

HQ

Novi, MI

Portfolio

1,150+ centers

Brands Include

Everbrook Academy, Tutor Time, Child Time, The Children's Courtyard, Apple Tree

Project Type

Greenfield childcare facility builds

Markets Served

Harrisburg (1), NC (1), Waxhaw (1) and Charlotte (1), Raleigh (3), Gainesville, FL (1).

Relationship

Multi-year, multi-project partnership

Learning Care Group Brands Include

Wes Arnold has seen what happens when the wrong commercial builder takes on a childcare facility. 

It's not just a construction problem. Licensing delays push back opening dates. Opening delays cap enrollment. Capped enrollment caps revenue … and in an industry where the only way to grow is to get more kids through the door, that lost time doesn't come back.

Wes manages
8 to 10
projects at a time as Construction and Development Project Manager for Learning Care Group, one of the largest early childhood education operators in the United States.
With more than
1,150
centers across 11 brands
His team's goal:
25 to 30
new green field daycare builds a year, each one opened as fast and as cleanly as possible is his team's goal.

That's not a goal you hit with a general contractor who's never built a daycare before.

THE CHALLENGE:

THIS IS NOT STANDARD COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Childcare facilities sit in a category of their own. The regulatory complexity alone puts most builders out of contention before a project starts.

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The only way we can generate revenue is having the school open," Wes explains. "But we can only put so many kids in seats because of licensing and ratios. So we've got to get these facilities open and operating in the most expedient manner we can.

That urgency shapes everything, including who gets the work.

Wes is deliberate about contractor selection. He doesn't just look for builders who can execute. He looks for builders who already know the territory … literally and figuratively. Regional subcontractor relationships matter. Familiarity with state licensing requirements matters. And for Wes' team, one thing sits above everything else: Safety.

Every Learning Care Group facility is designed around a safety-first philosophy that goes far beyond code compliance.

From the moment a car enters the parking lot, the environment is engineered to protect children, staff, and families.

That means vehicle protection barriers at drop-off zones. Alarmed gates at playground exits with audible alerts if a door is pushed open. A multi-layer entry system where even parents pass through a controlled lobby before reaching classrooms. Cameras positioned for full coverage. Cabinet locks, outlet placement, cleaning supply access … all considered with the reality that young children will test every boundary.

We look at the overall building envelope. The whole environment from the time a car comes into our parking lot till the time it leaves," Wes says. "We want to know that we have provided as much of a barrier and as many safeguards as possible.

Finding a builder who shares our safety-first mindset, and not just as a checklist, but as a core value is rare.

THE STORY:

HOW THE RELATIONSHIP STARTED

In 2023, Wes had several projects coming online in the Raleigh, North Carolina market. He needed a contractor with enough bandwidth to handle multiple builds simultaneously and enough regional strength to actually deliver.

He started talking with Matt and Andy at Metrolina Builders.

everbrook-academy-waxhaw5 (1)

The conversation went the way Wes hoped it would. Metrolina had deep experience in childcare construction and an established subcontractor base in the Carolinas. More importantly, they understood the specific economics that drive Wes' decisions. A one-week permitting delay is not just a schedule problem … it's a revenue problem. A change order that surfaces three weeks into framing is not just a cost problem, it's a trust problem.

Wes proposed something deliberate: rolling Metrolina's subcontractor base from one project to the next in sequence, creating a production rhythm that let the same tradespeople develop familiarity with LCG's standards across multiple sites.

Economies of scale, yes but also a quality multiplier.
I started my relationship with Metrolina in 2023," Wes says. "They've worked on three projects in the North Carolina market in Raleigh, and now they are working on one in Gainesville, Florida that I'm managing as well.

Seven projects. Two states. Still going.

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THE PROOF:

WHAT SETS METROLINA APART

Ask Wes what makes a childcare builder exceptional and he gives a specific answer.

"Their team is in tune with what we have been doing for quite a while," he says. "It makes the front end … the pricing out, the getting the sub base in place … much easier on my part. I've got peace of mind."
everbrook-academy-waxhaw3 (1)
That peace of mind, he's quick to point out, comes from something concrete: Metrolina is proactive.

Construction always produces complications. Permitting delays. Site conditions that didn't show up in the survey. Material lead times. Weather. Wes doesn't expect perfection. He expects a builder who handles problems before they become his problem.

By the time I find out something is going on," he says, "they've already got a plan on how to address it. They have empowered their people to make decisions, make them quickly, and to get the right remedy and the right path.

That's the difference between a vendor and a partner.

Metrolina Builders is very thoughtful and very thorough in the way that they take on a project from the start," Wes adds. "I have complete faith that they will put somebody in place that is going to make the whole project a success.

THE RESULTS

7 completed or active projects across two states:
everbrook-academy-waxhaw6 (1)

7 completed or active projects across two states:

North Carolina: Harrisburg (1), Waxhaw (1), Charlotte (1), and Raleigh (3).

Florida: Gainesville (1).

Multi-year partnership since 2023:
everbrook-academy-waxhaw4 (1)

Multi-year partnership since 2023:

Waxhaw, North Carolina ongoing through future pipeline
Subcontractor continuity across project sequence:
Everbrook Academy Oakhurst (3)

Subcontractor continuity across project sequence:

Reducing ramp-up time and variance
Peace-of-mind delivery:
Everbrook Academy Oakhurst (4)

Peace-of-mind delivery:

Wes is notified of challenges after Metrolina already has a resolution plan
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Here's what else Learning Care Group is saying about our team:

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 They are on top of things in a sense that I'm probably finding out things that are occurring on a project that they have already got a plan on how to address, by the time I find out something is going on."
6122cf144035e90977f5397b_quote1
They've been a very good partner with me, and I would like to continue that relationship."
6122cf144035e90977f5397b_quote1
 My relationship with Metrolina has been fantastic. Their quality of construction and their ability to follow through with their commitment has been paramount for the success of our projects."
6122cf144035e90977f5397b_quote1
I have complete faith that they will put somebody in place that is going to make the whole project a success."

THE RELATIONSHIP

For Learning Care Group, the value of a builder who already knows the work, and already knows your standards … compounds over time.

"When you own it from day one, you stay more engaged," Wes says of projects he manages directly. The same logic applies to his contractors. Metrolina isn't starting from zero on each new Learning Care build. They carry forward institutional knowledge, subcontractor relationships, and a shared shorthand about what LCG expects.

That kind of continuity is hard to put a number on. But it shows up in every project that opens on time, every change order that doesn't happen, and every call Wes doesn't have to make.

I'm still going to keep pumping things to Metrolina," he says. "They've been a very good partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes childcare construction different from standard commercial builds?

Childcare facilities require compliance with state licensing and safety regulations that go well beyond typical commercial code. This includes controlled access systems, alarmed exits, specific classroom-to-bathroom configurations, outdoor play area safety, and parking lot protection standards. Builders without prior daycare experience often underestimate these requirements, causing permitting delays that directly impact a center's opening date and revenue. 

Does Metrolina Builders have experience with multi-site childcare programs?

Yes. Metrolina has worked with large childcare operators including Learning Care Group on multiple concurrent and sequential projects. Their approach includes sequencing subcontractor teams across builds to reduce ramp-up time and maintain quality consistency across a portfolio. 

What does the design-build model mean for a childcare operator?

Design-build puts design and construction under one contract and one point of accountability. For childcare operators, this reduces the risk of scope gaps between architect and contractor, aligns budget assumptions earlier in the process, and typically delivers cost savings of up to 20% compared to traditional GC models.

How does Metrolina handle permitting for childcare facilities?

Metrolina has 50+ years of experience navigating local municipal permitting in the Carolinas. Their team is familiar with the licensing requirements specific to daycare and early learning facilities and manages the permitting process proactively to protect schedule and avoid surprises.

How does Metrolina approach child safety requirements in construction?

Safety is a design priority from day one. Metrolina builds facilities to meet the full scope of childcare safety standards: multi-layer entry control systems, alarmed playground and exterior doors, vehicle protection at drop-off zones, camera positioning, ADA-compliant restroom adjacency to classrooms, and storage and outlet specifications that meet childcare licensing requirements.

What kind of ongoing relationship does Metrolina offer?

Metrolina functions as a long-term regional partner for growth-focused operators. For clients like Learning Care Group, this means consistent subcontractor relationships, institutional knowledge of brand standards, and a team that can scale with a multi-project pipeline.

Contact Us

Building a childcare facility in the Southeast?

Metrolina Builders has been doing this for 50+ years, in the Carolinas. If you're planning a new childcare build and want a team that already knows the regulations, the licensing requirements, and what it takes to open on time, let's talk.