Camp Pendleton, along with active and reserve military components worldwide, were given the funding to plan, design, construct, make alterations and improve facilities through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act in 2009.

Since there is such a high demand for child care on base, Camp Pendleton put some of this funding to use by building the new facility.

“Currently, there are more than 750 children on the waiting list for child care on base,” said Col. Nicholas F. Marano, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “This new facility will increase the capacity by 166 spaces and replace the old facility.”

The new Child Development Center offers and education philosophy known as the Reggio Emilia approach, which is focused on preschool and primary education.

The philosophy is based on children having control and direction of their learning through touching, moving, listening, seeing and hearing.

“This type of education provides a sense of community,” said Marano. “It also provides constructive learning in a high quality environment.”

The Reggio Emilia approach also centers around children socializing with others in a healthy environment where they have endless ways to creatively express themselves.

According to the official website, the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children, as well as the close relationships that they share with the environment, at the center of its philosophy.

“Each child directly interacts with other children while they are learning about the environment,” said Navy Capt. Michael Williamson, officer-in-charge of construction, Marine Corps Installations West. “The facility is also designed to focus on the image of the children’s home and give them flexibility and creative opportunities.”

The Child Development Center provides playground equipment made solely from 150,000 recycled milk cartons, a commercial kitchen with an interactive viewing area, laundry facilities, plasma screen televisions, creative art and music regions and 20,000 square feet of playground area.

The center has been certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED gold, which is the second highest energy efficient classification a building can get.

With the LEED gold certification, the center will have a 35 percent reduction in energy use, and during construction, 96 percent of the waste was recycled.

“We really hit the mark with this building,” said Williamson. “We accomplished this task in a timely matter and did so without time-loss incidents.”

For more information or to contact the Deluz Child Development Center, call 760-725-5608.