Framing for care
Brick by brick, girder by girder, a downtown construction site is turning into a sight to behold. Later this year, it will become the state-of-the-art home of the new St. Anne’s Children and Family Center. It’s been more than 10 months since Catholic Charities broke ground on the $3.9 million building at 25 W. Fifth Ave. Although laborers are weeks away from putting on the final touches, the building – framed by basalt rocks in the front and a retaining wall in the back – is taking shape. St. Anne’s child-care center will be big enough for about 190 children, infants through pre-schoolers.
The center, scheduled to open Oct. 4, will be made up of 75 percent private-pay children and 25 percent from state-pay families. The 13 classrooms will have two caretakers each.
A dedication ceremony is planned for Oct. 11.
Sacred Heart Medical Center and Gonzaga University also are collaborating with Catholic Charities.
Sacred Heart, which is three blocks south of the school, will relocate its Cuddles ‘n Care Program to St. Anne’s center. The program, which benefits mildly ill children, will expand from 10 beds to 20 beds.
The 18 state-subsidized children enrolled at the current St. Anne’s center, 707 N. Cedar St., will also move into the new facility.
“We’re excited with the way it is turning out,” said Development Director Loreen McFaul while guiding a visitor through the airy lobby. “This facility is an answer to the child-care crisis in our community.”
McFaul said at-risk children currently don’t have many safe, affordable child-care options.
The 20,000-square-foot building is on the south side of Fifth Avenue between Browne and Division streets. Some of the buildings’ ceilings are as high as 28 feet.
Classrooms range in size from 6,000 square feet to 8,400 square feet. Classroom windows will extend from the floors to the ceiling, or 16-by-10 feet, creating a light, open environment.
The center will have two indoor play areas, three outdoor playgrounds and a rooftop play area.
A commercial kitchen will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the blue-ribbon award should go to architect Ann Martin, who came up with the concept of a kids’ kitchen.
Children will have the chance to prepare food and partake in other hands-on projects.
An observation area is being built outside the kitchen.
Security will not be overlooked at the new center.
Cameras are being installed throughout the building, and a Web-based system is being installed in the classrooms.
“The security is the most up to date,” said Wendell Sinn, project supervisor of Garco Construction.
“We will be capable of total lockdown with the push of a button,” Sinn said.
“Parents will be able to log on and see their child in a classroom,” Director Lee Williams said.
“When I mention that to parents, they see that as a way to share the day with their child.”
Classrooms also will have a one-way observation window, which will make it convenient for parents, teachers and Gonzaga University department of education students to peek in on the kids.
GU students will do work-study programs at the school.
Childbirth and Parenting Alone classes also will be offered. McFaul said that although 85 percent of the funding has been donated by Catholics, 85 percent of Catholic Charities services users are non-Catholics.
She anticipates several slots at the center will be taken by children of Sacred Heart Medical Center employees.
“Our motto is ‘Need not creed,’ ” McFaul said.
McFaul said more than $2.85 million has been raised for the project. Friends of St. Anne’s have donated $1.3 million.
Public fund grants and foundation grants total $400,000 and $516,000, respectively.
The nonprofit organization is in the midst of a fund-raising campaign and is mailing out brochures.