Feb. 5, 2020. (Michael Pieper/Creative Director)
By Patrick Sochacki
MIDLAND — “This is really a dream come true for many of us,” said Jean Goodnow, president of Delta College, just before the last steel beam was raised at the top of the new Midland Center.
Approximately 50 people stood outside the nearly-finished skeleton of the new facility at 419 E. Ellsworth St on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Excitement abound for the opportunity to sign the forged steel that would complete the building’s frame.
With the beam in place, the final sparks from the welder signified the completion of the project. Claps and cheers ensued.
“The center will focus on STEM, primarily,” says Goodnow. “There will also be programs for an Associates in Liberal Arts offered in the future.”
STEM is the focus of science, technology, engineering and math. According to Goodnow, there is a “significant need” for degrees and specializations in this field.
Midland’s local business boon
The downtown Midland area is rich with restaurants and coffee shops, which cemented the decision to not include any dining facilities in the new Midland Center.
“We aren’t offering any food in the [Midland] Center; we will be relying on the outlying area for that,” says Goodnow. “But there will be lots of areas for students to congregate and get together for studying or socializing.”
The Midland Center will also be open to community activities in the future.
The saga of the new Center
are the contracting group responsible for the building.
Feb. 5, 2020. (Michael Pieper/Creative Director)
The new facility is replacing the current Midland learning center, located at 1025 Wheeler St. The old campus was chosen to be replaced because of the aging building and infrastructure.
The building of the new Center has not been without hitches.
The Delta Collegiate reported in October 2019 that the Center’s opening was pushed back from July or August of 2020 to December 2020. The city of Midland needed to issue a new building permit because of revised project plans and the need for re-bids on parts for the project because they went over budget.
The site is still expected to open in December of 2020.
