*In this photo:* The staff of the Early Childhood Innovation Center has moved their work under the work of its new building, built on the former location of Grossley Hall.

On Campus

Early Childhood Innovation Center – completed and occupied

Thursday, September 4, 2025

The partnership between the State of Delaware and DSU in raising the level of competencies and professionalism among childcare provide has been strengthened one of the newest structure on campus – the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) building.

In addition to housing the staff of the Early Childhood Innovation Center on its second floor, the building has provided a more spacious home for the University’s Early Childhood Lab School on the edifice’s first floor. The Lab School formerly occupied a small space in the Education & Humanities Building on campus.

The new building – located on the former site for Grossley Hall – provides a modern setting for the ECIC to manage its childcare provider certification and higher education program that is being implemented throughout the state of Delaware.

While certification training courses are still being conducted in New Castle and Sussex counties, the classes in Kent County are being held in the ECIC building. The edifice is now also another meeting place option for state agencies and organizations. Most recently the building was the site for Higher Education Advisory Committee and Council of Professional Recognition meetings. It has also been used for Lab School family events. The children of the Early Childhood Lab School occupy the building's entire first floor.

“It is an absolute signal of the commitment that the state and DSU has in promoting and supporting this work,” said Dr. Kimberly, ECIC Executive Director. “We can do this work anywhere but having a building that has the facilities to bring people together and to house the staff that are doing the work, allows the work to be efficient and effective. It is the newest building on campus and are proud to be in it.”

Dr. Dannae Orisamolade, Director of the Early Childhood Lab School, gave input to the architects for the design of the building’s first floor. She said that entire first floor is used for the Lab School, designed specifically with children in mind.

“When I worked on the ECIC Team in designing this building, I did it from the lens of ‘if I were the director there’ and this is what I believed the teachers would want, the families would want, and the children would want,” Dr. Orisamolade said. “And now to actually be here on this side as the director, and seeing everything that I had envisioned when I was with the ECIC come to life in this space and how well it is being used. It’s like a full circle moment.”