Press Releas

Media Advisory For More Information Contact: Dr. William Fellner Dean of Science and Mathematics (209) 954-5354 wfellner@deltacollege.edu

                                          Groundbreaking for Delta College’s
                                   State-of-the-Art Math and Science Center

San Joaquin Delta College held the groundbreaking ceremony for its state-of-the art Math and Science Center on Tuesday, April 6th at 3:30 p.m. In attendance were Delta's Board of Trustees, management and staff. Delta's Trustees turned over the ceremonial first shovel of soil in what remains of the C-6 parking lot, located on the north end of the campus.

Funded by a combination of Delta’s Measure L Bond and state matching funds, the $35 million three story Math and Science Center will replace the existing and outdated Cunningham building. The Center will provide advanced science labs and lecture space necessary to expand and improve Delta’s Math and Science curriculum.

The new Math and Science Center will incorporate materials and colors that reflect the modern “Village” character of existing campus buildings. The building will be highlighted by a beautiful enclosed center atrium.

The Center will have a 70,000 sq. ft. laboratory core, with dry labs on the first floor, wet Biology Labs on the second floor, and Chemistry Labs on the third floor. “We are increasing the number of laboratories from 13 to 19,” says Dr. William Fellner, Dean of Science & Mathematics. “The labs will be outfitted with modern equipment that is expected in a college science classroom. All classrooms and laboratories will be technologically adapted for current and future instructional delivery methods.”

The labs will wrap around a central service core, consisting of tech offices, lab preparation rooms and lab storage rooms. Students will enter the labs from the opposite side of the central service core, providing safe separation of students and chemicals. Student break-out spaces, computer labs and a resource center for studying and tutoring will be provided. A new computer laboratory will be available to enable more hybrid sections of courses that students can take on-line.

In addition to sophisticated laboratories, the proposed Math and Science Center will have 20,000 sq. ft. of classrooms on each floor. Each block of classrooms will be dedicated to a specific discipline. Included are high-tech “Smart Room” lecture halls. Delta College expects to offer additional sections of lab classes that are more efficient, allow for more flexible scheduling and are safer for students.

Cohesion among staff is important in any working environment. This too, is considered in the Math and Science Center environment. Dr. Fellner adds, “In the Center’s faculty office building, we will finally have the entire discipline’s faculty together in one location. This will create a more relaxed sharing of ideas and build collegiality amongst the instructors.” In addition, each floor of the faculty office building will have small conference rooms to facilitate faculty meetings and faculty/student group sessions.

Construction of the Math and Science Center is expected to take three years.

             
               Delta College Trustees and management turn over the first shovel of soil
                           at the Math and Science Center groundbreaking ceremony.

                                 Work on the Math and Science Center is underway!

                       Artist’s rendering of Delta College’s Math and Science Center.

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