Private elementary school relocates to improve students’ educational experiences
ALLENTOWN, Pa., Feb. 27, 2024 – CAI Learning Academy, a private elementary school founded and funded by CAI, today announced its relocation from inner-city Allentown to a 29,000-square-foot facility on the 84-acre campus of Cedar Crest College to occur in June of 2024. The current occupant of the building, Da Vinci Science Center, a national award-winning science center, will move to a newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility at PPL Pavilion in Allentown. The new science center will open this spring, with the date to be announced later this month.
CAI, a global technology services firm, founded CAI Learning Academy from its steadfast commitment to accessible education and helping families thrive. With the academy’s growing enrollment, the decision to transition to its new location was driven by its pursuit of a more expansive, greener space that offers enhanced curriculum opportunities. It will also help expand the student population thereby broadening its reach and increasing the academy’s impact within Lehigh Valley. Formerly utilized by the Da Vinci Science Center, the facility will continue to serve the community as a place of learning and inspiration, providing a premier educational experience to children of families who qualify for financial assistance.
“We are thrilled about this move as it enables growth and reinforces our commitment to provide students with an exciting learning environment,” said Jessica Devlin, director and co-founder of CAI Learning Academy. “Starting the 2024-2025 school year in this new space will stimulate creativity and critical thinking for our future leaders. We are grateful for the Da Vinci Science Center and Cedar Crest College as we now embark on a new historical growth milestone.”
"We are excited that CAI Learning Academy, an organization with a complementary mission and desire to ensure access to education for all children, will move into the facility where we brought science to life and lives to science for almost 20 years,” said Lin Erickson, executive director and CEO. “The Science Center is fortunate to have longstanding partnerships with both Cedar Crest College and CAI Learning Academy and looks forward to continued collaboration with the ultimate goal to expand educational opportunities in our community.”
"Nineteen years ago, Cedar Crest College leased a corner of campus to the Da Vinci Science Center, a move aimed at fostering curiosity and delighting learners of all ages," said Dr. Elizabeth M. Meade, president of Cedar Crest College. "Now, with the Da Vinci Science Center's decision to sublease their building to the CAI Learning Academy, we're pleased to see the tradition of nurturing young minds will persist in that space."
The new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion will build on its existing reputation as a regional leader in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics, or STEAM education serving, youth, families and schools throughout and beyond the Lehigh Valley area. The Da Vinci Science Center will continue to make contributions to the local and regional economy both directly and indirectly by inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists, innovators and programmers.
CAI Learning Academy was represented by the team of Cindy McDonnell Feinberg and Gregg Feinberg of Feinberg Real Estate Advisors, LLC. Da Vinci Science Center was represented by the team of Phil Schenkel and Matthew Dorman of JLL.
About CAI Learning Academy
CAI Learning Academy is a privately owned and operated elementary school that is committed to providing children in grades K-5 with a high quality, holistic education. Rooted in leadership and character development, our curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in the fundamentals of reading, writing, and math, while also exposing students to a wide range of topics, such as science, social studies and the arts. We believe that every child is unique and gifted, and our programming is designed to help each child discover and reach their potential.
About Cedar Crest College
Cedar Crest College has been empowering women to smash glass ceilings and achieve their educational goals since 1867. Today, the College continues to open the doors to opportunities for its diverse student body, both in the undergraduate women's college and in the co-ed School of Adult and Graduate Education. Located in Allentown, Pa., Cedar Crest is ranked by U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best College Rankings as #9 in Social Mobility and is among the top 100 colleges and universities in the region.
About Da Vinci Science Center
Da Vinci Science Center is a national award-winning non-profit science center that has been bringing science to life and lives to science for more than 30 years. Da Vinci Science Center experiences make science fun and approachable, helping to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with the wonders of science. The recently launched Access for All program is one way the Science Center reduces financial barriers for visitors – offering $3 individual admission and $30 family memberships to qualified households. To learn more about these and other programs, visit www.davincisciencecenter.org and follow them on Facebook/Instagram/X.
Contacts
Derek Herman
Executive Director of Communications
CAI
derek.herman@cai.io
Kristin R. Laudenslager
Director of Marketing & Communications
kristin.laudenslager@cedarcrest.edu
Caroline Strutt
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Da Vinci Science Center
caroline.scutt@davincisciencecenter.org