An Early Childhood Wonder: William Paterson University Child Development Center

On Jun 29, 2023

Although Wayne-based William Paterson University (WPU) had already determined that it needed a new home for its Early Childhood program, a faltering pandemic-era office real estate market presented the perfect purchase opportunity: A dormant two-story office structure for sale at 1800 Valley Road.

With the assistance of Clarke Caton Hintz architects and builder GPC, the 1980s office building was transformed into the 11,000-square-foot William Paterson University Child Development Center.  The total cost of the transformation came in at $2.1 million—$2 million of which was covered by an award to the university from the state. The project created 75 construction jobs. WPU hired eight full-time staff members as well as five part-time paraprofessionals for the new Child Development Center.

Designed for the education of children aged 2 ½ through kindergarten and fully licensed through the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the perimeter of the building now features large, naturally lit classrooms. In addition to the structure’s large exterior glazing, new windows were added to the inner corridor walls, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the building and providing observation areas for teachers and parents alike.

Exceeding the NJ Department of Education’s high quality preschool requirements, each classroom provides a minimum of 750 square feet of usable space for an overall size of at least 950 gross square feet. Support rooms include a motor-skills room and flexible classroom space, a resource center, nurse area, observation conference room, and shared prep/storage areas directly connecting to the classrooms. 

Architect

Clarke Caton Hintz

Trenton

Builder

GPC, Inc.

Millburn

Nominator

George M. Hibbs, AIA
Principal,
Clarke Caton Hintz

Trenton

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