Center for Child Development

Center for Child Development is an early childhood care and education facility that serves families from the local Manhattan community and Fort Riley. The center provides educational and developmental services for young children while supporting the needs of university, military and community families.

View the Center for Child Development on the campus map.

 

Building History

The Center for Child Development originated in a 1984 initiative led by former K-State president Duane Acker to address campus childcare needs. The center opened in August 1985 as the KSU Childcare Cooperative in Jardine Terrace, initially offering toddler and preschool programs. Rapid demand growth led to expansion throughout the building, supported by parents and the Student Governing Association.

In 2006, the center became part of K-State, and student support helped fund a new $3.5 million facility that opened in November 2010. The 32,000-square-foot building doubled the center's size and increased capacity by 50%, allowing it to serve up to 246 children. Designed using current research in early childhood education, the facility emphasizes connections between indoor and outdoor learning spaces, abundant natural light, and environments that support both active and quiet activities through thoughtfully varied room designs.

The new center also encourages movement and supports comfort. Each classroom has an open area with vaulted ceilings for more action-oriented activities and movement between indoors and outdoors, with the other half of each room featuring lowered ceilings for more structured, quiet activities.