Final beam raised for Downtown Midland Center

Delta College / News / Final beam raised for Downtown Midland Center

February 6, 2020

Campus community members attended a special event February 5 to sign the last steel beam that was placed on the Delta College Downtown Midland Center.

Looking up at the beam being placed on the structure

Dr. Goodnow with Board members at the ceremony

(Top) The last steel beam is ready to be placed atop the Downtown Midland Center. (Left) Board of Trustees member Marcia Thomas signs the beam. (Above) From left, Thomas, Delta College President Dr. Jean Goodnow, and trustees Stacey Gannon and Andre Buckley celebrate the progress of the new building.

The topping out ceremony is a tradition in construction and is held when the last beam is placed on a structure. A pine tree is often attached to signify that the building has reached its final height.

Before the final beam was raised, members from the Board of Trustees, Delta College President Dr. Jean Goodnow, community members and several staff members had the opportunity to sign it.

“Delta is very excited to finish this stage of construction,” said Goodnow. “This important building will provide state-of-the-art instruction with a collaborative approach at a very convenient location.”

Tina Van Dam, member of the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation Board of Trustees, said the new center is a win-win.

“It’s a win for Delta and a win for Midland,” said Van Dam, who is also board chair of the Delta College Foundation. “It’s going to have a huge impact on our community.”

About the Downtown Midland Center

Spence Brothers began construction on the 30,000-square-foot building in fall 2019. It is slated to open in November 2020 and hold its first classes in January 2021.

The facility, located at 419 East Ellsworth St., will include science and computer labs, classrooms, special-use training rooms, multi-purpose rooms and student services. It will bring new opportunities for innovation, and programs will focus on STEM to meet the needs of employers in the area.

The building’s construction cost is $13 million, with more than $9 million provided by community donors. It was designed by TowerPinkster.

Major funding was provided by Dow and the Dow Corning Foundation. Additional funders include the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation and Charles J. Strosacker Foundation. The building’s site was donated by Chemical Bank and Dow.

The current Delta College Midland Center, located at 1025 East Wheeler St., will remain open until the move is complete.

Written by Leah Twilley, Communications Specialist.