DCAD's Student and Technology Center, funded by a $400,000 grant from the Crystal Trust Foundation, will continue to operate. Seek funding to cover ongoing financial support. | Photo provided by Delaware College of Art and Design
WILMINGTON — After two years of reimagining the space; Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) has opened a technology center that gives students the opportunity to experiment with cutting-edge tools.
The center, located on the third floor of this small private arts college, is equipped with five DE printers and a reprint printer, a laser cutter and vinyl cutter, two 3D scanners and a waterjet scanner, and more. Students, faculty and staff also enjoy The Vault, a lounge equipped with smart TVs, computers, and an Oculus 3D virtual reality system. There is also a writer's studio for staff and faculty creative writers.
DCAD officials, joined by Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, cut the ribbon at the center on February 7th.
“We are committed to providing our students with the latest skills available,” DCAD President Jean Dahlgren told Delaware Business Times in an email. “No matter what your major, learning how to use cutting-edge technology is essential to becoming a well-rounded artist and designer.
The new center was conceived in 2022 and funded with a $400,000 grant from the Crystal Trust Foundation. DCAD chose to renovate the existing classroom space on his third floor at the 600 N. Market Street location. Contractors on the project included Mitchell and Associates and Bancroft Construction.
While the grant covered the cost of construction work and equipment, DCAD will continue to seek funding to cover ongoing financial support. For Dahlgren, an artist herself, it's important for educators to understand what skills are currently in demand in the workforce and aim to meet them.
“The skills students learn using the tools in the Student & Technology Center are transferable to industries such as manufacturing, 3D modeling and engineering,” she said.
