Opening for Students Spring 2024
Kopchick Hall Front Render (PWWG Architects)

On September 23, 2020, we broke ground on the new home of the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Once completed, the more than 142,000-square-foot Kopchick Hall will be the hub of activity for all things science and math at IUP. Thanks to the generosity of many alumni and friends of IUP, the building that once seemed like a dream will soon be a reality, creating opportunities for students and fostering relationships that will impact our community, our region, and our world.

“We change lives through science and math. Our graduates change the world as educators, scientists, and leaders.”

Steven Hovan, Dean, Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Progress Through Pictures

In spite of a global pandemic, construction has progressed on schedule. Where John Kopchick addressed the crowd a year ago, the steel frame that will become Kopchick Hall now stands.

A year after its groundbreaking, Kopchick Hall—IUP’s future home of science—is well on its way to opening in 2023. See the full story.

Kopchick Hall Construction Time-Lapse

This video shows the construction of Kopchick Hall from March 10, 2020, through September 8, 2023.

Funding Not Transferable

Financially challenged, IUP announced in October 2020 an academic restructuring that would reduce its number of programs and employees. Some have asked if funds earmarked for construction of Kopchick Hall could be used instead to save IUP jobs and programs.

The answer is no. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services, and not IUP, pays for the construction of academic buildings, like Kopchick Hall. IUP was required to fundraise $9.7 million of the $90-million construction cost, but those funds have since become the property of the Department of General Services and have been used toward the building's design and construction.

About Kopchick Hall

Special Features

  • 3 flexible classrooms
  • 2 multipurpose computer labs
  • 16 flexible teaching labs w/ shared instrumentation spaces
  • 43 research lab modules
  • 72 faculty offices
  • Dean's Suite office, includes conference room and six offices
  • 4 Department offices with nine faculty and admin offices
  • Collaboration spaces for group study, conference, tutoring
  • Student organization space

Building Size

142,536 Gross Square Feet

Basement:  17,841 GSF

1st Floor:  32,012 GSF

2nd Floor:  31,472 GSF

3rd Floor:  31,159 GSF

4th Floor:  30,052 GSF

Timeline

Initial Job Conference / Phase 1 Begin
July 24, 2020

Construction Site Fencing
August 7, 2020

Groundbreaking
September 23, 2020

Demolition of Walsh Complete
October 30, 2020

Concrete Footers Completed
April 30, 2021

Steel Erection Begins
May 1, 2021

Exterior Cladding Complete
August 30, 2022

Steel Erection Completed
October 30, 2021

Exterior Landscaping and Site Work
May 15, 2023

Phase 1 Construction Completion
August 1, 2023

Occupy Building (Move In)
December 16, 2023 – January 22, 2024

Opening
Spring 2024

Hold Classes
January, 2024 (Spring 2024 Classes)

Phase 2 Weyandt Demolition Begin
February 1, 2024

Phase 2 Weyandt Demolition Complete
September 1, 2024

Planetarium

Kopchick Hall PlanetariumThe planetarium is used extensively in astronomy and planetary science classes for majors in the Geoscience Department, in campus-wide survey courses, and in programs for the general public.

Roof Terrace/Green Roof

Kopchick Hall Aerial CourtyardSitting atop the Cejka Planetarium, the open-air terrace supports research plots used in biology and geoscience classes. The area surrounding the green roof planters will be used for open-air receptions and events.

Laboratories

Circadian Rhythms LabLab space is precious, and Kopchick Hall will have enough to help students get hands-on mentoring from the faculty in flexible laboratory classrooms, an imaging lab, anatomy lab, vivarium, and more.

Tutoring Rooms

Tutoring RoomsThese rooms will help students enhance their understanding of classroom topics, and faculty will be able to continue the side-by-side relationships that make learning a growth process. For everyone involved, these rooms will help further IUP's mission to push students to reach heights they used to think were out of reach.

Teaching Laboratory

Teaching LaboratoryGone are the days of one room, one program. These rooms can be configured for any number of laboratory classes, with equipment at the ready.

#ScienceMatters at IUP


Media assets are available in the online gallery.