The Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC) held a celebratory opening for their new Head Start facility in Webster, Massachusetts, recognizing the many supporters who helped make the long-awaited opening possible. The families in the region served by this facility had been displaced since a natural disaster in 2015 forced the closure of their Oxford location. Head Start provides early education services and support services for low income families with children under five years old.

WCAC undertook their largest capital campaign to date to raise the $2.6 million needed to renovate and open the new space. LPA|A was hired to be the architect for the significant renovation, charged with transforming a senior center into an early childhood education center. The 1950’s era building was originally designed as a parochial school but was renovated in the 1980’s to serve as the town’s senior center. The stringent requirements for any educational facility serving young children, coupled with the age of the building presented a complex design challenge to the architects.

The center now houses four classrooms, office and conference space and a kitchen, able to serve 71 children and their families. Other upgrades to the building include the installation of an elevator, HVAC, plumbing, technology, security and fire suppression systems.

In order to give WCAC, and the community they serve, the best possible facility, LPA|A donated services in addition to the work done as the contracted architect.

“We are most grateful to Lamoureux Pagano Associates for all their great work on our newly renovated Webster Head Start Center,” said WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis. “The generous in-kind support was a critical component to our overall fundraising strategy for the project which utilized both public and privately raised dollars to complete. LPA|A’s expertise resulted in a state-of-the-art learning environment which will serve thousands of low-income children and families, preparing them to be life-long learners and successful school students.”

LPA|A is one of several local companies who will be recognized at WCAC’s 13^th annual Community Action Hero Awards.