Special Children's Center gets new digs.

The Special Children's Center, located at 501 Prospect Street in Lakewood, has announced an anticipated move-in date to a new, state-of-the-art facility designed by Hasbrouck Heights based DMR Architects in January 2009. The project, which broke ground in January, is designed to initially house 28 children with special needs currently enrolled in the Special Children's Center's respite and support programs.

"Our old center was just too small," said Hindy Langer, executive director for Special Children's Center. "The people we work with deserve better, but we knew this would not be an easy or an inexpensive undertaking."

Lloyd Rosenberg, president and founder of DMR Architects, provided pro bono design services to the center. The finished building will feature five state-of-the-art classrooms, therapy rooms, bathing facilities, administrative offices, an indoor playground and an auditorium. It is estimated to cost about $1.5 million.

DMR is one of the largest and most respected full-service architectural firms in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region. The firm helped conceive the 10,000 s/f facility in conjunction with Ralph Zucker of Somerset Development, the building committee chairman for the center, who envisioned the project as one where participants would contribute needed supplies and donate their services to raise the facility.

"The construction and progress to date has gone according to plan," Rosenberg said. "I am happy that our team was able to be a part of such a great cause. We are thrilled to provide our services for an at-need population in the Lakewood community."

Once completed, the center will help people from ages 3 to 21.