The construction of the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University is officially halfway complete. University officials and state education leaders gathered for a beam signing event on Sept. 25th to commemorate this milestone. This occasion allowed attendees to leave their mark on a steel beam of the two-story facility.
Among those present were DSU President Tony Allen, Delaware Secretary of Education Dr. Mark Holodick, ECIC executive director Dr. Kim Krzanowski, DSU Education Department Chair Dr. Shelley Rouser, and members of the DSU Board of Trustees and other university and state officials.
The Early Childhood Innovation Center
Dr. Holodick highlighted the collaborative effort that has brought the ECIC project to fruition. “It came about through partnerships between the Governor’s Office, the state Department of Education and Delaware State University, early childhood advocates and experts, all working to plan for an Early Childhood Innovation Center that does an outstanding job of preparing professionals to work with young children, while simultaneously providing a space for our youngest learners,” he stated.
The ECIC, projected for completion by March 2025, will serve multiple functions. The first floor will house DSU’s Early Childhood Lab School, while the second floor will accommodate the ECIC itself. This center aims to elevate the standards of early childhood care by providing essential training to childcare providers, enabling them to become certified as child development associates.
President Allen emphasized the project’s importance. “This is making sure that our childcare providers in the state have the right education and training, something that they have been wanting and deserve,” he said.
Dr. Rouser expressed enthusiasm about the anticipated impact of the ECIC. “The beam that is being signed today represents not only support to this building, but also the support that is going to happen inside of this building,” she remarked. “Our youngest learners – our little Hornets – are going to get the support they need for a strong foundation to take them to K-12 and beyond.”
DSU’s Agriculture Building
The ECIC is not the only construction project underway at DSU. Work has begun west of the site on a new agricultural academic building. The building will feature innovative design elements such as living walls and green roofs. Dr. Cherese Winstead Casson, dean of the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, noted that the building will focus on research, teaching, and community engagement while utilizing advanced technology.
“It will prioritize experiential learning and flexible research environments to accommodate community stakeholders through strategically designed collaborative spaces,” said Casson.
The 15,000-square-foot-building will include lab spaces, interactive classrooms, auditoriums, a demonstration kitchen and a 21st century emerging technology center. The project is slated to be done in June 2025.