Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

April 2, 2004

Child care center replaces Pammel facilities

The theme for the new child care center in University Village is shapes, typified in these internal geometric windows. Photo by Bob Elbert.

by Anne Krapfl
The remodeled building with the funky geometric windows at the south edge of University Village finally has kids giggling, snacking, playing and learning in it. The university's child care services moved into an expanded 100 University Village over spring break.

Staff and students abandoned the final nine huts (save for Pammel Grocery) in west Pammel Court.

"That we have a new building in these budget times is huge," said Julie Hagen, coordinator for child care services at the university. "We're very grateful to ISU administrators, particularly Warren Madden and Carla Espinoza, for recognizing the need for these services and protecting our function, as well as the project budget, over the last few years."

The theme for the building is shapes; thus, the unconventional windows. Hagen said they also sought to create a Midwest "home-like" feel, with warm colors, a deep "porch" on the playground (east) side of the building, and soft couches and bean bag chairs in the child areas. Internal walls separating program areas feature additional geometric windows that let siblings "check up" on each other and give a feeling of connectedness among all the spaces --- a sharp contrast to the old set-up in nine separate buildings.

Joining Hagen in the new facility are:

University Community Childcare, a non-profit accredited day care licensed to serve 90 children from infants through 12-year-olds. UCC, which occupies about 85 percent of the building, includes rooms for infants (up to 18 months), toddlers (18 months to 3 years), and preschoolers (3- to 5-year-olds). It also includes an area for before-and after-school care for kindergarten children through 12-year-olds. About 60 percent of the available slots are reserved for children of ISU students; the rest are for children of ISU or local employees. UCC also manages a part-time day care pro-gram for ISU student families only.
The Comfort Zone, care for children who don't feel well and can't attend their usual day care. The Comfort Zone has a self-contained ventilation system and its own door on the north side of the building.
Center for Child Care Resources, a non-profit agency in a statewide network of child care resource and referral organizations. This office serves Boone, Hardin and Story county families and day care providers.

In addition to a remodeled residence administrative building and about 30 percent more new space, the $2 million project includes converting a former parking lot to a large grass playground, outdoor play equipment and indoor furnishings at UCC. Site work began in November 2002.

The university community is invited to an open house from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 22. A short program will begin at 10 a.m. Among the public art pieces selected for the building is a wall quilt made for the UCC reception area by Kathy Geoffroy, wife of President Gregory Geoffroy. Approximately 3 by 4 1/2 feet, it follows the building's shapes theme and is titled "Lines and Angles and Squares, Oh My."