The WSU Children’s Center presented an open house on Thursday morning to commemorate the addition of two new classrooms and a remodeled playground.

The remodel was funded by WSU President Elson S. Floyd, who contributed about $1 million to the 2,500-square-foot expansion to the south end of the center.

Floyd and Michael Tate, vice president for the Division of Student Affairs, Equity and Diversity, attended the celebration and presented a brief speech on the remodel and the accomplishments of the program.

“The open house was definitely a success. The room was full of people,” said Mary Ellen Radziemski, director of the Children’s Center.

The Children’s Center was built in 1994. It has not been altered since 2001. “The kids walked through and seemed very intrigued and interested with all of our new alterations,” Radziemski said. The new classrooms are equipped with new toys, furniture, a pretend-housekeeping area and a climbing structure. There has also been a retaining wall built where the new building ends.

“My favorite part about the remodel would be the low windows that allow the children to look outside,” Radziemski said. The rooms were also repainted with bright blue and teal color accents. The WSU Children Center offers care for about 135 children, aged between four weeks old to 12 years old. “With the remodel, the center will be able to take in 14 toddlers and nine infants,” said Kimberly Akin, office support supervisor of the Children’s Center. Radziemski said there is remaining space, so the center is open to university students, staff and faculty in need of child care.

Even though this building has been modified, parents do not need to worry about a price increase for the upcoming semester, said Sandi Klingler, administrative manager of the Children’s Center. The WSU Children’s Center programs are licensed through the state and accredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. Receiving accreditation requires a process of internal self-study and an external professional review from nationals.

“We have to hold ourselves to higher standards than most child care centers that are simply licensed,” Radziemski said. The center also has a very low turnover rate. In addition, the center offers meal plans that stick to the USDA Childcare Food Program as well as a ratio of three infants per staff member in the infant room.

“We have a very fine group of professional staff who have worked here for many years and love what they do,” Radziemski said.