Despite preparations made prior to the beginning of the fall semester, the new Cunningham Math and Science Complex is now scheduled to open next spring.
This change in date comes after emails were sent out to faculty and staff last semester indicating an earlier move.
The initial “targeted completion date,” according to an email sent out by Dr. Matt Wetstein on March 2, was Sept. 1.
“The main reason for the delayed opening of the building is the change required to the planned heating, ventilation and air conditioning system,” said Wetstein.
After the building is completed, the college will have a chance to test all the systems, said Wetstein.
When opened, the new building will include six lecture/lab spaces per floor and a few lecture halls.
The labs will house no more than thirty students. Lecture rooms will hold up to 90.
The building will not be the typical hall Delta students have grown accustomed to.
There will be laboratory preparation area, where staff and teacher’s aides can gather materials prior to the class.
There will also be a cadaver room. This room will have stainless steel counters, with medical examination quality lighting and equipment, said Wetstein.
Upon the completion of the new Math and Science complex, the Cunningham building will be torn down. The only part of Cunningham building that may remain is the Clever Planetarium.
“The only thing that we would have to do, if we find the funds to save the planetarium, is refurbish the exterior and ensure that the building can stand alone,” said Wetstein.
At the end of last semester, faculty and staff housed in the Cunningham building were given notice of a move over the summer intersession, which was postponed.
One centers move that will have a major effect on the students and staff is the Math Science Learning Center.
“We were told we will be on the first floor in a large rectangular room with mostly glass walls, with no auxiliary spaces available,” said Aileen Moorehead, instructional support assistant. “We have not even seen the space yet.”
The current Math Science Learning Center has the main center with access to a few rooms for specialty tutoring sessions, while in the new center all services will happen in one location.
Upon completion, the building will be the new home of all sciences courses. The division office for Math and
Science will also be held in the new building with all math and science faculty offices in the “b wing,” facing the vineyard on the north side of campus.
A major difference that students will notice are the up-to-date laboratory spaces, the current lab spaces in Cunningham building are outdated, which does not allow for the best possible learning environment for the student.
“Everything [in the current labs] is rusted and needs to be cleaned. Some faucets do not work and the teacher had to put labels on them to help us find the ones that work,” said Janice Morgan, year two chemistry student.
Once the current Cunningham building is gone, there will be a new quad space between the DeRicco Student Services Building and the New Math Science Complex, and the currently blocked Cunningham parking lots will reopen.
