On the site of the former baseball stadium where the Delaware State University Hornets once played, the university’s first new academic building in years is sprouting.
The university community came together Thursday to break ground on a new building that will serve students, faculty and staff in the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.
The structure will feature “living walls” with actual plants and the latest classroom technology. Other required research spaces as well as demonstration spaces for drones, robotics and other activities will also be included.
DSU leaders said the project recognizes the long-term mission of land-granting agencies and the way science, technology and agriculture converge to address local and global issues such as food insecurity.
“Due to our increased student population, we need this extra space,” said the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Cherys Winstead said.
Also announced Thursday, Agilent Technologies Inc. Will work with DSU to increase the proportion of underrepresented students entering STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). Agilent has donated $1,000,000 to Delaware State University to support new laboratory instruments that allow the university to expand educational opportunities and advance research in applied chemistry, biological sciences, molecular and cellular sciences, and other related disciplines.
“Agilent is creating opportunities for Delaware State University to become the Mid-Atlantic Center for Biolife Research,” said Delaware State University President Tony Allen. “This means that Lincoln University, Cheney State University, UMES and Morgan State University will be our partners.”
“One of the important things for Agilent is to invest in the science of the future; not just in the technology of the future, but in people and capabilities,” said Greg McKinney, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Consumables Group. “We couldn’t think of a better partner than Delaware State.”