College Construction Update, July 2008

It is exciting to see the new buildings rising up on the hill above Bethlehem.  As one drives south along Hebron Road, it is easy to see the progress on the construction of the Dar Al-Kalima College, situated next to the Wellness Center.

As the plan view illustrates (see below), the buildings that are currently under construction are only the beginning of a larger project.  When complete, these new buildings will make up the new campus of the Dar Al-Kalima College, giving the College the space it needs to grow into the 4-year university its creators envision.

The main outline of the buildings can be easily seen as the different levels begin to rise out of the foundations.  Truckloads of steel and concrete continue to make their way up the steep slope to the site of the construction, and the workers are kept constantly busy in the hot sun.  Soon trucks will begin showing up with piping and electrical conduits for inclusion into the building.

The campus will have a perfect vantage point from which to view the outlines of Bethlehem and the surrounding towns and villages.  Even more importantly, it is high enough to catch the western breezes on the hot summer days.  The water feature, when completed, will run from the upper level to the lower level, and then be recycled up to the top level.  Combined with the natural landscaping, the moving water will provide a sense of cool serenity, a positive environment for improving the mind.  We look forward to seeing what next month’s progress will be.