WILMINGTON — After two years reimagining the space, the Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) has opened its technology center that gives students the chance to experiment with cutting-edge tools.
The center on the small private arts college’s third floor includes five DE Printers and a resign printer, laser and vinyl cutters, two 3D scanners and a waterjet scanner and more. Students and faculty can also enjoy “The Vault,” a lounge with a smart TV, computers and Oculus 3D virtual reality system. There is also a writers studio for the creative writers among the staff and faculty.
DCAD officials, joined by Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, cut the ribbon on the center on Feb. 7.
“We are committed to providing students with the most up-to-date skills available,” DCAD President Jean Dahlgren told the Delaware Business Times in an email. “Learning to use state-of-the-art technologies, no matter what your major, is essential to becoming a well-rounded artist and designer.
The new center was imagined in 2022 and funded with a $400,000 grant from the Crystal Trust Foundation. DCAD opted to renovate existing classroom space on the third floor of the 600 N. Market Street location. Contractors on the project included Mitchell and Associates and Bancroft Construction.
While the grant covered the construction build-out and equipment costs, DCAD will continue to seek funding to cover ongoing financial support for it. For Dahlgren, an artist herself, it’s important for educators to take in where the current skill demands are in the workforce and aim to meet it.
“The skills students will learn by using the tools in the Student & Technology Center are transferable to industries like manufacturing, 3D modeling, engineering and more,” she said.
