10-29-01
BEHREND OPENS NEW CHILD CARE CENTER
The staff at Penn State Behrend's Child Care Center welcomed eighty-one children to a brand-new building in Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie this morning.
"We encouraged the children to say good-bye to the old building," said Eunice Moore, director of the center, "and I'm delighted to see how easily they've taken to the new facility."
The new 8,600-square-foot Child Care Center was designed by WTW Architects of Pittsburgh and constructed by Potomac Builders of Erie. In addition to two rooms each for infants, toddlers, and pre-school students, it also includes a multipurpose room, a research and conference room, and an office for the director. It is equipped with a building-wide intercom and a full sprinkler system. Several parents, led by Doug Looser and Ron Stanos, installed fencing to create an outdoor play area for the children.
"This building was designed specifically for
the children," said Ken Miller, director of Student Affairs at Penn
State Behrend, who oversees the center. "Our former site had to be
retrofitted to meet the needs of the children, but this building was
designed for them, right down to the pint-sized plumbing. It is a bright
and cheerful location for both children and staff."
Penn State Behrend announced last November that its childcare center at
5650 Station Road would be razed this fall to make way for the new
Eastside Access Highway. Following the recommendation of a committee
composed of faculty, staff, and students, the college decided to build a
new facility in Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie.
"The new child care center has been a high priority of the campus community," said Miller. "It also will be a plus for organizations and companies that choose to locate in Knowledge Park. We offer outstanding care for children from six weeks to six years of age."
-30-
Contact: Loretta Brandon
(814) 898-6063 (O)
(814) 864-9922 (H)
e-mail: lzb6@psu.edu