By Heather Kittle
After nearly a year since it began, the remodel of lower A-wing at Delta has been completed.
The $3 million remodel was designed by TowerPinkster and managed by Spence Brothers. $1.4 million of the budget was funded by the State of Michigan and one of ten community college and university projects approved by Gov. Whitmer. The approval came after the January 2021 passing as part of a Covid-19 relief supplemental appropriation bill.
Newsroom concept versus the final product; Aug. 30, 2022; photo credit Heather Kittle
“Somehow they were able to take that small space and reconfigure it,” stated Jonathan Garn, Associate Dean – Arts & Letters division. “The architects were able to listen to all the different areas.” The different areas being the EMB (Electronic Media) and journalism departments.
Nearly 11,330 square feet in the lower level of A-wing were completely renovated.
The renovations include a lounge area for students and staff in electronic media and journalism, a new collaborative newsroom for students involved with the Delta Collegiate, a revamping of the Delta College Public Media radio facility, and much more.
Constructed in 1961, and only having received small updates since, the newly configured lower A-Wing was developed as a multipurpose space. Designed for electronic media and journalism students along with faculty to come together and have a shared and collaborative space. While simultaneously keeping them within close proximity of Delta’s PBS studio, and radio broadcasting booths.
Thomas Bennet is the Public Broadcasting General Manager at Delta. During the beginning of the construction he said, “This updated space will naturally generate new and mutually beneficial collaboration opportunities, student learning experiences, and internship opportunities.”
