DelTech to upgrade Owens Campus

Students and visitors to Delaware Technical & Community College in Georgetown return to classes Monday, Aug. 23, and should soon find campus improvements, including a new roof on the William A. Carter Partnership Center.

Lawmakers approved Gov. Jack Markell’s recommended $357 million for the bond bill in June, which includes nearly $223 million for capital-improvement projects. Lawmakers also OK’d $3 million for Del Tech’s three campuses. In Georgetown, the Jack F. Owens Campus will receive $650,000.

Bob Hearn, business manager for the Owens Campus, said, “The entire $650,000 is going to be used at the Carter Partnership Center. The $650,000 will certainly help us keep going on a list of deferred maintenance.” He said the center was chosen for upgrades since the University of Delaware, Wilmington University and Delaware State University all have offices there.

“A big part of that money will be used to replace the roof,” said Hearn. He said a white roof would be installed using a Duro-last product.

The highly reflective white material will help keep the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Duro-last is also used on other campus buildings. “It sort of goes hand-in-hand with some of our energy-saving initiatives we’ve got going on here,” said Hearn.

He said Del Tech anticipates more than 5,000 students this fall and another 5,000 noncredit students. The library is open to the public, so he anticipates more than 10,000 visitors to campus this year.

Carpet in the Carter Partnership Center is more than 20 years old, and it, too, will be replaced, he said.

“We’re also doing upgrades to the HVAC system. The first phase of that was begun last year, but we’ll continue with the replacement,” he said.

Any leftover funds will be used to replace ceiling tiles, he said.

“With the campus size we have, it’s very difficult to keep up with maintenance. We’re hoping to stretch the money as far as we can,” said Hearn. Lawmakers also approved $650,000 for the Terry Campus in Dover and $1.3 million for the Stanton/Wilmington Campus. Visit dtcc.edu