A Look Inside the New Delaware County Community College (DCCC) Southeast Center

On October 15, several of the Foundation’s fund holders and supporters joined DCCC for a tour of the Southeast Center construction site, and we’re excited to share what we saw taking shape in the heart of Delaware County.

Located at the former Archbishop Prendergast High School site near Upper Darby High School, the 118,000 square foot building is being renovated by the Delaware County Community College to serve our community’s educational and workforce training needs. The new location provides accessible programming for the southeastern portion of the county.

A few details on the project:

• For the first time in the College’s history, the Hospitality and Culinary Arts programs will operate from a dedicated facility, complete with professional-grade kitchens designed to prepare students for careers in these growing fields.
• The 30,000 square foot workforce development annex will focus on biotechnology, electronics, and other technical career training programs that respond to regional employer needs.
• A 17,000 square foot Early Childhood Learning Center will provide both affordable childcare services and hands-on training for students pursuing early childhood education careers.

During the tour, we walked through spaces that will soon house comprehensive student services, including advising and counseling support, a learning commons with library and tutoring services, and a student resource center with a food pantry. The building will also feature a cafeteria with an outdoor dining space where students can gather between classes.

The Southeast Center broke ground in May 2023. The Building Community Campaign seeks to raise $5 million to open this full-service, technology-enabled campus.

If you are interested in learning more, we would be happy to connect you with this or other innovative nonprofits around the county. Contact Monika Collins at mcollins@delcofoundation.org, 610-744-1015.

*photo courtesy of dccc.edu