Environment & Facilities

The Bennett Family Center, completed in 2001, was made possible by a generous gift from Edna Peterson Bennett Pierce '53. Her interest in and commitment to quality programming for young children have been actualized in the design of a building with a playful interior emphasizing light and openness.

The center is divided into two "houses" in the two wings of the building, each containing two pairs of connected rooms: one for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years and one for children ages 3 years to 5 years. This mixed-age model offers a family-like setting with continuity of care supported by consistent caregivers for children and families. In addition, the Bennett Family Center has a private academic-integrated arts kindergarten program. All of the center's children take advantage of the Penn State campus on their daily walks as well as the center's playground, which offers a large outdoor setting for gross motor play.