Fred Rogers Center for Early
Learning
and Children's Media
by Karen Fetter
In the Pittsburgh area, who doesn't remember tuning into Channel 13 or PBS
for an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood? If, like us, you and your
children spent countless hours enjoying "a beautiful day in the neighborhood,"
then you'll be excited to learn that Saint Vincent College is building on Fred Rogers' legacy with the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's
Media.
According to Don Orlando, Public Relations Director for Saint Vincent
College, people of any age can enjoy what the Fred Rogers Center has to offer.
The ultramodern $14 million building has two-stories and occupies 36,500 square
feet. In addition to the Center, the building also houses the Fred Rogers
Archive, an Interactive Exhibit about Fred Rogers' life and work, the Foster and
Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery, the Conference Center at Saint Vincent College,
and WIM -- the upside down mural by Roman Verostko.
The Center was first established in 2003 as a resource for children and families
to continue early learning through the media, something that Fred Rogers always
had a vision for and which guided his life's work. Rogers recognized more than 50
years ago how great the potential of television could be for educating young
children in ways that support their social and emotional development.
Today, these concepts are more important than ever in an age when children are
exposed to cable and satellite television, videos, computers, interactive games,
talking books, and other media.
The Fred Rogers Exhibit
Fred himself began working with Saint Vincent in 2000. He collaborated
with leaders from the college and a team of nationally recognized advisors.
He also invited two colleagues - Milton Chen, Ph.D., Executive Director of The
George Lucas Educational Foundation, and Ellen Galinsky, President of Families
and Work Institute, to write planning papers that began to set the agenda for
the Rogers Center. Despite Fred's death in February 2003, the plans
continued on to complete and open the Center in October 2008.
According to Orlando, the Fred Rogers Exhibit is the centerpiece of the
building. The interactive exhibit pays tribute to Fred Rogers' contributions to
early learning and children's media while also providing "teachable moments" for
adults and children. Displays featuring Fred's sweaters, tennis shoes, puppets
and other artifacts are part of the exhibit. The Archive preserves the
work of Fred Rogers while providing guidance and direction to inspire the next
pioneers in early learning and children's media.
The collection that represents Fred Rogers' life and work includes physical and
digital versions of a wide range of materials that includes video of Mister
Rogers' Neighborhood, The Children's Corner, and other programs produced by Fred
Rogers; musical scores for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and other programs;
recordings of Fred Rogers' music; manuscripts of speeches, articles and other
writings; audiotapes; and photographs and other artifacts.
Conference Facility at Saint Vincent College
Additionally, the Fred Rogers Center also can be used as a conference
facility. Groups of all sizes can be accommodated in a large banquet room with
theater seating for up to 450 or 250 for dinner, spacious meeting rooms and
several small meetings. All spaces offer flexible set-up options and
functionality. There is also wireless internet access and all rooms are
equipped with the most recent digital projection technology to meet divergent
conferencing needs. A business center is also available for those who wish to
send faxes, make phone calls or print documents and reports. For
information, contact Event and Conference Services at Saint Vincent College
724-532-5030.
Facebook, YouTube, and Social Media
The Center has taken advantage of the rise of the Internet and online Social
Media, including a website, Facebook, and YouTube. These e-marketing
concepts are from work between the Fred Rogers Center and the Alex G. McKenna
School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College.
"We are hoping to use the power of today's digital technology and web-based
networking to develop the Fred Rogers Center community in much the same way Fred
himself used Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the cutting-edge technology of his
day - television - to build relationships with children and families," explained
Fred Rogers Center Executive Director Rita Catalano.
Designing and Building the Fred Rogers Center
Aside from what the Center has to offer on the inside, it has a lot to offer
on the outside as well, in terms of its remarkable construction and
architecture. The building was designed by Kevin Gannon and architects from
FortyEight Architecture (formerly DGGP) of Pittsburgh, following a national
design competition. The general contractor was Massaro Corporation of
Pittsburgh.
Don Orlando explained that the building is considered "green" and has
recieved LEED Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design). This certification proves that the building is sustainable
through its design, placement and orientation, water conservation, use of
natural lighting, energy efficiency, use of recycled materials, and durability.
One very special touch was the use of 100-year-old black walnut that was
harvested by the Benedictine Monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey. The wood
was stored in the basement of Saint Vincent Basilica and was used for most of
the woodwork throughout the Center.
With the assistance of O.B. Milling in Apollo, the boards were planed smooth and
formed into the shapes that were needed for doorframes, stair treads, stair
rails, baseboards, and walnut cladding. Manor House furnished it to the
construction site for the carpenters from Massaro who did the final
installation.
"We are very happy with the design and construction of the building, especially
the unique woodwork throughout the public areas of the conference center,"
Archabbot Douglas Nowicki O.S.B. concluded, "and are happy to hear that people like the
building that honors Latrobe native Fred Rogers."
If you or someone you know is a fan of Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood, take the time to stop by and visit the Fred Rogers Center on the
Saint Vincent College campus. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Admission is free and you surely will not be
disappointed.
For further information about how to support the Fred Rogers
Center please visit:
www.FredRogersCenter.org, or call 724-805-2750.
For information on The Conference Center at Saint Vincent
College Visit:
www.stvincent.edu/events/the-conference-center8, or call 724-532-5030.
For Information on Saint Vincent College Visit:
www.stvincent.edu, or call
724-532-6600.
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