College Construction Update, August 2008

Already the first floors of the new buildings are completed and the second floors have been poured.  The buildings are really taking shape now.  The building that connects to the existing Wellness Center (on the left) is already up past the second story, where the new school laboratories will be housed.  The new building to the right has space for the DAK health clinics on the upper levels and for a new laundry facility on the basement level. 

Meanwhile, the walls on the second story of the main classroom building for the college are going up, making space for the ceramics workshops.  A central courtyard where students will be able to socialize and enjoy a planned water feature is located at the core of the building.  A large area of the complex is dedicated for the new media center, allowing for expansion of one of the most popular areas of study at Dar al-Kalima College.

Since the buildings are cut into the side of a steep hill, it is difficult to get a good idea of how spacious an area this will be.  The second floor of the main classroom building barely reaches ground level at the back.  The front, however, offers a wonderful view of Bethlehem and Beit Jala.  On a clear day, one can see all the way to the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem.  There is hope that providing a beautiful environment for the college campus will inspire more creativity and further the endeavors of the new students.