By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Construction is now underway on the Mosaic Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph
Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says this is a milestone project that everyone came together on for young families in St. Joseph
"It really is about just looking to the future and thinking about how wonderful this community can continue to grow and to be for the families we serve," Gaddie tells reporters following a groundbreaking ceremony at the Plymouth Building.
Construction on the Plymouth Building in downtown St. Joseph began last week. Officials estimate the discovery center will be open in two years.
Gaddie says the foundation has worked and collaborated with numerous young families in St. Joseph on the project
"Some of the most exciting things about this project is we've worked about two and a half years to gain input from young families, and educators, business folks, healthcare providers, all to better understand what it is that they hope to see when the doors open in two years," Gaddie explains.
The project is a collaboration between the Mosaic Life Care Foundation, Mosaic Life Care, Buchanan County, and city officials.
The future discovery center will be in the Plymouth Building in downtown St. Joseph, a former pool hall as well as the site of the former Plymouth Clothing company.
Gaddie says the high ceilings inside the building were one of the focal points that made it the perfect site for the discovery center
"All the way through the discovery center you will see extremely high ceilings which accommodate many of the exhibits and the plans that we have for the building," Gaddie says. "We have designers coming in to work on this project that are nationally known for their work in discovery centers, so we're anxious to see what they've planned, it's going to very special just for St. Joseph."
With construction underway Gaddie says the project will take two years to complete before the discovery center is up and running.