USACE breaks ground on new Storck Child Development Center

By Ms Carol E Davis (USACE)November 14, 2011

USACE breaks ground on new Storck Child Development Center
A special community representative continues turning dirt as U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach commander Col. Kelly Lawler looks on following a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 25, 2011, for the new $9.3 million Storck Barracks Child Development Center. When op... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

STORCK BARRACKS, Germany -- Representatives from U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Department of Public Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District, along with several children donned hard hats, picked up shovels and tossed dirt as they partnered to break ground on a new $9.3 million child development center in Illesheim, Germany Oct. 25.

Speaking at the ceremony, Col. Kelly J. Lawler, USAG Ansbach commander, acknowledged the importance of the event.

"It is a great day for the garrison to be able to break ground on this new facility," Lawler said.

When complete in late 2013, the more than 15,800 square-foot CDC will accommodate up to 126 children from the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Mike Miller, Child, Youth and School Services program operation specialist, said the new center will increase the number of available child care spaces, allow children quicker admissions, and raise the quality-of-life for the families they service.

"The new CDC gives families one less worry," said Miller. "Parents can meet their missions with less stress, go to work with less stress, find jobs with less stress, and eliminate the concern of finding alternative child care."

According to John Curtis, USACE Europe District's Engineering and Construction Branch deputy chief, the new CDC will consolidate two smaller existing facilities and provides state-of-the-art features for the children and the staff.

"The most important element is that we are providing a safe and healthy environment for the children," Curtis said. "Our pledge is to work diligently with our partners, FMWR, DPW, the garrison, and the bauamt, to ensure a quality child care center that fosters the best child care possible for our Soldiers and their families."

The facility will incorporate safety measures for fire protection, closed circuit television and conduits for video surveillance system. Additionally, it will have an adjacent outdoor play area, activity rooms for the children, an Active Play and Outreach Transition Care Room, a reception area, a visitor waiting area, an isolation area for sick children, administrative offices, staff lounge, and training room.

Curtis playfully noted the importance of quality, nurturing child care and the role the district has in building such a facility.

"Our underlying goal is to cultivate future Army engineers by providing a quality learning environment where children can reach their full potential," Curtis said.

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