Market: Education

Purpose-Built for Early Learning

Built from the ground up, this educational child care center was developed for Kiddie Academy to support infants, toddlers, early preschool, preschool, and pre-kindergarten children. This design-build facility in Centerville, Pennsylvania, is an 11,329-square-foot space that was designed with the specific needs of early childhood education in mind—blending function, safety, and flexibility.

Collaborative Design-Build Delivery

Led by Rick Carter, Director of Virtual Design & Construction, Warfel’s team partnered closely with the franchisee to deliver a true one-stop solution. Our in-house VDC experts fully designed the building to meet Kiddie Academy’s brand and operational standards.

The completed facility features a full commercial kitchen, adaptable classroom layouts, and a versatile outdoor playground with a basketball court. Each classroom includes a consistent layout with restrooms, cubbies, cot closets, and direct access to the play area—ensuring efficiency and ease of use for staff and students alike.

Laying the Groundwork for Success

Early in planning, Warfel helped the client pivot from an unsuccessful lease opportunity to securing a greenfield site that better met their long-term needs. That proactive approach helped set the stage for a smooth, streamlined build.

Solving Challenges with Speed and Accountability

During excavation, the team uncovered unsuitable soils and buried debris, including remnants of a former structure. Later, sustained rainfall during roof installation led to moisture buildup and potential mold concerns. Warfel acted swiftly—sealing trusses, testing roof materials, and implementing thorough mitigation strategies to protect the building’s integrity and safety.

Delivering on Trust—Start to Finish

Warfel completed the Kiddie Academy project in approximately seven months. The result reflects our commitment to collaboration, transparency, and proactive problem-solving—even when faced with unforeseen challenges.

More than a successful build, this project represents a lasting partnership. It embodies Warfel’s Clients for Life mission and our dedication to delivering value-driven, full-service solutions in the education sector.

This expansion to the DV Friends campus significantly transformed the school’s entrance and improved its overall functionality, creating a more welcoming and efficient space for students, staff, and visitors. This project introduced key updates, including new front and rear entry vestibules, exterior ramps, and canopies that redefine the school’s main entrance. These upgrades not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the campus but also provide improved accessibility. Additionally, our team constructed a new two-story, 8,130-square-foot building, providing additional classrooms and expanded administrative space, allowing the school to meet the growing needs of its community. We completed approximately 1,975 SF of interior renovations focusing on the areas where the new addition seamlessly connects to the existing structure.

A standout feature of the project was relocating the school’s entryway to the point where DV Friends’ two buildings meet, creating a central reception area that all visitors will pass through—whether entering from the front or rear. This new design centralizes the building’s entry points and makes the school fully accessible for the first time in its history.

Construction began in April 2024, and our team leveraged extensive experience working in active school environments to ensure the safety of students and staff. We prioritized planning and careful coordination to minimize disruptions to the school’s daily activities. This included aligning our work with the school’s academic calendar, summer camps, and sporting events to ensure smooth operations throughout the project.

One of the challenges we successfully overcame was the tight timeline for completing renovations before students returned. Specifically, we had to complete the building and ramp connections in the existing hallway, along with essential MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) work, all within a three-month summer window. Despite this compressed schedule, our team delivered the project on time, meeting the school’s needs and expectations.

Over six months, the IHM Center for Innovation and Creativity at Bishop Shanahan High School was involved in transforming the existing Media Center, Computer Resource Lab, and part of the academic wing. The newly created spaces, featuring 12,400 sq ft of cutting-edge technology labs, modern presentation areas, and dynamic collaboration zones, are designed to enhance the school curriculum. These facilities will enable students to engage deeply with their studies and explore their passions in physics, engineering, mathematics, graphic design, robotics, and art.

A 28,000 SF expansion to the university’s existing fitness facility, the new Athletic Pavilion features a two-story atrium with a full-length glass curtain wall enveloping the space with natural light. The new space includes fitness and studio rooms, a stunning lobby with café and event space, dedicated locker rooms for intercollegiate teams, weight training rooms, and more. 17,000 SF of interior renovations were also completed throughout the existing facility, encompassing various fitness, office, and classroom areas. Our main objective during preconstruction was to help Cabrini determine what could feasibly be accomplished for their budget, and within their tight time constraints. In collaboration with WRT Design, we offered suggestions and provided solutions and alternatives regarding building structure and system options so that Cabrini could meet their program needs without compromising the unique design intent of the project.

Originally constructed in 1921 as the Alumni Memorial Library, this project included constructing a 4,200 SF addition on the front of the historic structure. This unusual addition features a magnificent, curved glass atrium housing a formal exhibition gallery and education spaces. Seven state-of-the-art, climate-controlled, and light-regulated open storage vitrines house over half of the museum’s collection. The terrace above the expansion incorporates a green roof and an outdoor sculpture garden. Interior renovations to the existing restrooms and basement were also included.

This project required swapping two spaces within the school and revitalizing areas for young learners. The Kelly Hall Middle School was previously the early learning educational space, which has now been renovated into the middle school classrooms and common space. The Early Learning School now occupies the old middle school. This project also renovated the school library to better suit their needs.

This project transformed a previously abandoned medical office into a thriving daycare facility for infant-age children through 12 years old. It included a complete floor plan demolition, framing of new walls, installation of new floors, light fixtures, flooring, paint, ceilings, and casework.

The Dining and Community Commons project is an ambitious, multi-phased addition and renovation to the existing Sharples Hall dining facility, at the heart of Swarthmore’s campus and vibrant Scott Arboretum. The centerpiece of the project is a 42,000 square foot mass timber dining addition, thoughtfully conceived to support Swarthmore’s mission to deliver a transformative learning experience founded in stewardship, innovation, inclusion, equity, and diversity.

To supplement their mission, Holy Child School started pursuing an expansion project at the beginning of 2017 to nearly double their overall campus. Our scope of work for the project consisted of demolishing five adjacent properties that the school acquired, a multi-purpose facility expansion off the existing O’Neil Gymnasium to provide a more formal space for gathering, events, and plays, and a new turf field.