On Nov. 18, the Board of Trustees approved a contract for architectural services with NJA Architecture to create a kiln yard adjacent to the ceramics lab in Shima 138/138A.
Student Trustee Dylan Myers proposed the Shima Ceramic Kiln Project motion, and area 2 trustee Dan Wright seconded it.
The recommended action that needed to take place at the time was that the administration recommended the Board of Trustees authorize the District to enter into a contract with NJA Architecture, for the Shima Ceramic Kiln Project of $128,600. The budgeted source is Capital Project Funds.
Capital Project Funds is a category of funding that is often used for one-time large investments, usually for long-term assets like buildings or equipment.
The kiln yard is part of a project that started last year with the approval of money to purchase two new kilns for the ceramic program, which has seen both of its main gas kilns fail in the past two years.
“This is a vital upgrade to the safety and functionality of the kiln and ventilation systems. I look forward to again being able to offer more sections to ceramics to meet the demand of our student-artists,” said Shenny Cruces, Delta College’s ceramics professor.
Board documents confirmed that the project is also being done due to health and safety concerns.
“… This project will remove the existing kilns from the classroom to address the potential safety issues to any toxic fumes and heat,” the documentation notes.
The current kilns are located in an outroom of the classroom space. The work looks to relocate the kilns outside of the classroom space, in an outdoor space that connects to the current sculpture yard.
NJA Architecture is a local Lodi firm established in 1979, and has focused its services almost exclusively on public school design and community projects.
The approval process for the plans started earlier in the semester.
On Sept. 22, 2025, the first Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP) was sent to pre-qualified firms to supply design services for Shima 138/138A instructional rooms.
The second proposal’s solicitation includes a pre-proposal meeting and a question-and-answer period before the Oct. 20, 2025, submission date.
Board documents did not indicate a finish date for the project.
