Dielman Hall Renovation LL articles

Dielman Hall Renovation Update

The Dielman Hall Renovation Project is an example of the dynamic community that surrounds and supports Dock. While all classrooms and the commons area were completed for the beginning of this school year, the next phase (which includes outside roofed porches and a larger atrium and commons area) has been progressing steadily each week with plans of being completed by February 2024. To date, fifeen businesses (with Dock alum as leaders) and fortythree Dock alumni have been directly involved in the design and construction of the project.

Kevin Detweiler (‘11), employed by H Mininger and Son, has been a steady presence on the job site since the first day of the project back in June. Current Senior, Owen Walsh, had the opportunity recently to talk with Kevin about his involvement, asking him to reflect on what he is most proud of about this job. Kevin shared that he is… “most proud of being able to have an impact on the lives of the students that are here today. I’m proud to know that the work we do here is contributing to the student’s learning by helping to provide a good learning environment that they can enjoy.”

Thanks to all of the Dock alumni and friends of Dock that have contributed the highest level of care and professionalism to the Dielman Hall Renovation project!

Alderfer Glass

Wendell Weaver ‘73

Ben Weaver ‘01

Nate Weaver ‘08

A.W. Bergey and Sons Flooring

Micah Bergey ‘86

Bergey’s Electric

Steve Alderfer ‘70

Robert Bergey ‘75

Ron Bergey ‘80

Dan Freed ‘81

Dale Bergey ‘83

Amy (Freed) Gulley ‘00

Derek Cassel ‘14

Josh Bauman ‘21

Jake Gerber ‘21

CHL Systems

Bryan Stout ‘97

Mat Landis ‘98

Adam Halteman ‘02

Seth Landis ‘04

Derstine Insulation

Daryl Derstine ’72

Good Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning

Rod Kratz ‘87

Don Landis ‘87

Matt Geiser ‘01

Ian Schweizerhof ‘12

Logan Gillespie ‘21

Nathaniel Landis ‘22

Hershey Enterprises

Steve Hershey ‘76

H Mininger and Son

Steve Benner ‘73

Jim Detweiler ‘75

Bryce Mininger ‘83

Scott Kratz ‘89

Darren Moyer ‘11

Kevin Detweiler ‘11

Drew Mininger ‘11

Colton Young ‘12

ISS – Integrated Security Systems

Jason Yoder ‘95

JDS Painting

Jonathan Stunkard ‘01

Lederach Architecture

Phil Lederach ‘74

Mast and Associates

Rick Mast ‘84

Reed Associates

Angela (Moyer) Benner ‘91

Schiller and Hersh Associates

Richard Delp ‘92

Jon Bergey ‘97

Walnut Hill Services

Steve Gillespie ‘96

Marshall Leaman ‘19

Micah Zehr ‘19

Dielman Hall Renovation Project

Dock Mennonite Academy’s master plan includes two areas of priority on the high school campus – Dielman Hall and Clemens Center. We are excited to announce that major renovations will be completed on Dielman Hall during the summer and fall of 2023.

We are privileged to collaborate with Dock alumni working in professional vocations such as architectural, engineering, and general contracting along with specific trades. These professionals ultimately have the mission of Dock as top priority and also get the “spirit of the venture,” as John Ruth put it, same as the crew in 1977. We’re building a school.

Dielman Hall was built in 1978 (45 years ago) and currently houses Bible, Social Studies, and English departments. Dielman is a well-constructed building that needs major renovations to prepare it for the next 45 years. Renovations include:

• Major expansion of the current lobby with a new atrium to reflect the architectural design of Rosenberger Academic Center

• New porches for protection from the weather

• Sprinkler system throughout the building

• New fire alarm system

• Complete renovation of classrooms D-1 through D-6 (ceilings, walls, floors, lights, and cabinets)

• Upgrades to classrooms D-7 through D-12 (these classrooms were updated in 2006)

• Complete renovation of student and faculty restrooms

• Conversion to LED lights throughout the building (Dock qualified for a $22,000 rebate from PECO Electric for this energy saving initiative)

• Permanent removal of student lockers (a small percentage of students use lockers and there are lockers provided in Rosenberger Academic Center)

• New carpet and flooring in corridors

• New state-of-the-art technology

Dielman Hall’s new larger commons area will look similar to Rosenberger Academic Center, bringing a beautiful connection between buildings on campus. Both Rosenberger Academic Center (completed in 2006) and the Dielman Hall Renovation Project were privileged to have Dock alum, Philip Lederach (’74) as lead architect.

Dock is making a significant investment in the Dielman project to provide an attractive and stimulating environment for student learning. The cost of this project is $3.1 million, and we are pleased to announce that $2.8 million has already been committed to the project. Dock appreciates the generous support of parents, grandparents, and area businesses to make this project a reality.

We're Building a School!

When asked about a highlight he experienced while on the Christopher Dock Mennonite High School Board of Trustees in the 1970s, historian John Ruth (right) shared a story from 1977, when Dielman Hall was originally under construction:

“... When we built Dielman Hall, I walked up to Charlie Hange, who was digging and laying a pipe in the ground, and I said, “what are you doing here?

Charlie said, “We’re building a school!”

That meant he had the spirit of the venture. He wasn’t thinking about the money or the difficulties or anything like that. He knew we were doing it as a spiritually concerned family and it is a spiritual project. ”

Philip Lederach (‘74), Drew Mininger (‘11), Bryce Mininger (‘83)

Dielman Hall Transformation Complete

It is not ofen that one gets to experience an architectural transformation as significant as what Dielman Hall has just experienced. As a master plan for the high school campus was developed and approved by Dock’s Board of Trustees in 2019, Dielman Hall was identified as an area of priority for updating. Constructed in 1978 (45 years ago), “Dielman” quickly became the “heart of campus,” becoming home to the Guidance Office, Science Department, and English Department for much of that time. In 2006, with the opening of Rosenberger Academic Center, the southern wing of Dielman received room renovations and upgrades, and as the Science Department transitioned to Rosenberger, Bible and Social Studies departments moved in to join English (and the Spanish Department for the last ten years). The commons area has also experienced many years of student memories and activity, with buses dropping students off in the morning and picking up in the afernoon, and during lunchtime when students would gather to spend time together. The building has served the Dock community well during the last 45 years, holding special memories for the just over four thousand students that have been enrolled during that time.

The total cost of the project is $3.1 million, and we are humbled and pleased to announce

Do you know where the name “Dielman Hall” comes from?

Taken from the October 1978 Lamplighter: The name “Dielman Hall” refers to a friend and spiritual brother of Christopher Dock: Dielman Kolb (1648-1712). Kolb was a preacher at Salford and built his house (still in existence) about a mile past Lederach (in the direction of Skippack). He is remembered as having assisted his fellow-minister, Bishop Heinrich Funk of Franconia Township, in proofreading the new German translation of the Martyrs’ Mirror around 1748. And it was Dielman who helped persuade Christopher Dock (c.1698-1771) to write the little book, School Management, which has kept his name alive.

that all total funds have been raised. With eight weeks to complete the first phase of the project, demolition of the interior of Dielman Hall began immediately on the last day of the school year in June, 2023. Contractors worked diligently and were able to complete all classroom and restroom renovations by the first day of school, August 2023. Work steadily continued with the second phase of the project during this school year, which includes two porches and an expanded commons and atrium that aesthetically match the interior and exterior of Rosenberger Academic Center, and was completed in March, 2024. The final phases of the project will be completed during summer 2024, and will include new carpet in the classrooms that were renovated in 2006, and outside patio areas that were donated as the class gif from the Class of 2023.

On March 22, the entire student body gathered in the new Dielman Hall atrium for a dedication ceremony. Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber shared with students that over forty alumni helped with the construction, many supporters of Dock donated to finance the project, and the hope is that “this can be a holy place for all students to gather, learn, and feel welcomed and respected in.”

Mr. Robert Rutt, Director of Advancement, was project manager overseeing all aspects of the Dielman Hall transformation. When asked what he will remember most about the project, Mr. Rutt shared that, “One of the takeaways for me is the reward of working with a core team of professionals that are Dock alumni

– Phil Lederach (‘74), architect

– Rick Mast (‘84), site engineer

- Rich Delp (‘92), MEP engineer –Bryce (‘83) and Drew (‘11) Mininger, general contractors.” Mr. Rutt also said that it was very rewarding to work with Dock alumni who serve as owners of local construction companies and their employees

who graduated from Dock: “I was very impressed with everyone’s commitment to meeting the critical eight week deadline for the first phase of the project. The job site was full of contractors representing various trades and everyone worked together.”

The renovation and expansion work completed in this project has prepared Dielman Hall for the next 45 years, so it can continue its role as a vital part of campus. In addition to overseeing the construction aspects of the project, Mr. Rutt was also responsible for raising the $3.1 million needed for funding the work. Mr. Rutt said when he approached members of the Dock community about this project, “they were very receptive to the need to update Dielman.” Mr. Rutt feels that, “the Dock community views the renovation as an investment in our young people and the future of our wider community. The conversion to energy saving LED lights, a complete sprinkler system, and other improvements are viewed as good stewardship.” Dock is very grateful for a supportive community of parents, grandparents, alumni, and businesses that made this project possible.