Construction update, June 2008

The onset of summer brings not only the hot weather, but an assurance that there will be no rain to disrupt the construction efforts at the site of the new Dar Al Kalima College campus. Workers moving diligently under the hot sun have completed the foundations of the buildings, and it is exciting to see formwork being built and columns being poured.

The outline of the building is now clearly visible, making it easier to imagine the finished product with students and teachers moving from place to place. The backdrop of Bethlehem and Beit Jala, with the Holy City of Jerusalem in the distance, makes the site a prime location to “see and be seen”.

The property for the college is located on a steep hill with a limited number of square meters available for construction. By excavating deep into the hill, the amount of useable space has been multiplied, allowing for more floors for classrooms and other facilities. Since the bedrock runs fairly close to the surface, retaining walls are unnecessary in some locations around the premises. However, due to the extremes in climatic temperatures, there is a need to allow space behind the buildings to allow for ventilation and drainage.

The steel reinforcing and wooden formwork are almost complete in anticipation of the pouring of the massive columns necessary to support the weight of several stories of concrete. Once the wooden formwork and bracing are complete, the pump truck will arrive on site to pour the concrete into the forms. Due to the heat caused by the chemical reaction that enables the concrete to harden, combined with the naturally hot climatic temperatures, it becomes necessary to cool the towers as the concrete sets by hosing them down with water so the concrete will retain its required density ratio.

As we continue to report on the progress of the construction, it is also important to note that preparations for teaching new classes in Fine Arts are also underway in anticipation of the fall of 2009 and the opening of the new campus. Syllabi are being written and developed, textbooks are being researched, and instructors’ resumes are being submitted.  In addition to the vision for the future via the new college campus, there is also a consideration for the preservation of cultural history. The renovation and restoration of an historic building in the adjacent town of Beit Sahour became the newest addition to the Diyar Consortium. The Dar al Balad Restaurant and Artisana held its Grand Opening recently, with participation of several hundred local and international guests and dignitaries.

Efforts to preserve the past while looking toward the future remains the driving force behind the vision of Diyar.