The construction of a 50,831 square-foot Child Development Center is underway at Fort Myer, Va., and when completed it will be the largest childcare facility in the Department of Defense.

Following the attack on the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001, the Pentagon CDC was closed due to security concerns. Therefore, a new and larger facility was required to support military and civilian families who work at the Fort Myer Military Community to include Fort Myer, the Pentagon, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Henderson Hall and other facilities in the National Capital Region.

The new facility is scheduled to open its doors in August 2008. It will provide space for 438 children to include: 348 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age and 90 children 6 to 12 years of age. In addition to daycare, the facility will contain activity rooms, computer labs, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen, laundry space and outdoor activity space.

The project calls for special architectural treatments like brick facades and slate-like roofing for historical district compatibility and to fit in with the overall design of the Fort Myer installation.

The facility will provide staff with visual control of the entire building - both inside and out. This control will aid the staff in facilitating programming and supervising the children as well as their activities.

The $17-million project was awarded to Grunley Construction Company from Rockville, Md.