Delaware County Community College Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Southeast Campus in Drexel Hill
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA - May 9, 2023)—On Saturday, May 6, Delaware County Community College held a special groundbreaking ceremony for its planned renovation of the former Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill, Pa. into a new community-centered, state-of-the-art campus.
Speakers at the event included U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, YMCA of Eastern Delaware County President and CEO Michael Ranck, Delaware County Community College President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black, Board Chair Kevin Scott, student Alana Robinson of Sharon Hill, Pa., and Sharon and Andy Kelleher, co-chairs of the College’s Educational Foundation Building Community Campaign.
“This is about positively changing the lives of our students and residents in the communities served by the College,” said Dr. Gates Black.
“This is not only a building. This project represents an important investment in the students of Delaware County and is a testament to Delaware County Community College’s collective vision and commitment to progress,” said Robinson.
The College is transforming the former Archbishop Prendergast High School property at Garrett Road and North Lansdowne Avenue into a comprehensive multi-use facility that will provide affordable, quality education and training to area residents in an easily accessible location. The College is renovating the 80,000-square-foot, main building along with a 30,000-square-foot new annex that will transform a seven and a half-acre portion of the 35-acre property into a full-service campus featuring academic and career training programs in high-priority occupations, including Allied Health, Biotechnology and Electronics, Early Childhood Education, Skilled Trades, including Carpentry, and more.
The new campus will also include a Center for Workforce Development and Community Success, which will serve as a center of innovation for workforce training, a 17,000-square-foot Early Childhood Education Center that will provide much-needed childcare for students and residents as well as a learning lab for students in the College’s Early Childhood Education programs.
The estimated project completion date is 2025.
Photo Caption: Breaking ground for Delaware County Community College’s renovations at the former Archbishop Prendergast High School are, from left, Michael Ranck, president and CEO of the Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County; Kevin Scott, Esq., DCCC Board of Trustees chair; Dr. Monica Taylor, Delaware County Council chair; PA State Representative Gina Curry; PA House Speaker Joanna McClinton; DCCC president Dr. L. Joy Gates Black; U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon; DCCC student speaker Alana Robinson; and DCCC supporters Sharon Kelleher and Andrew Kelleher.
