The Foundation for Indiana University of Pennsylvania and IUP broke ground July 7, 2009, for the final phase of the Residential Revival project, a $270 million public-private collaboration that is the largest of its kind in the nation.
The final phase of the project is the construction of the Crimson Suites, a 596-bed facility along Maple Street between Pratt Drive and Eleventh Street. It will be completed for the Fall 2010 semester.
The Residential Revival is a collaboration between IUP and the Foundation for IUP that replaces fourteen of IUP's residence halls with buildings that integrate a “living-learning” philosophy into their design.
“This is a very exciting day for IUP and for the Foundation for IUP,” Daniel Prushnok, Foundation president, said. “To be part of the official beginning of this final phase is extremely gratifying, as it reflects hundreds of hours of effort on the part of university and current and former Foundation for IUP leadership.
“This project also illustrates the Foundation and the university's commitment to local partnerships. We are very pleased to have this project financed locally through First Commonwealth, with participation from S&T Bank, Marion Center National Bank, and Farmers & Merchants Bank of Western PA.”
“To accomplish the total reconstruction of student housing on the Indiana campus with contemporary, suite-styled residential units over five years is truly an amazing and historic achievement,” Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president, said. “IUP and the Foundation for IUP can take special pride in a unique and extraordinary partnership that has generated state-of-the-art facilities to serve the residential and academic needs of our students for decades to come.”
Making remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony were Atwater; Prushnok; Rodney Ruddock, Indiana County commissioner; Susan Delaney, IUP Council of Trustees vice chairperson; Joseph Dell, executive vice president of Corporate Banking, First Commonwealth; and Joseph Trimarchi, vice president, Services Group, First Commonwealth.
Lawrence, Scranton, and Shafer halls—known as the Governors Quad—are being razed to make way for the new construction.
The Governors Quad buildings were built in 1971 and are all named in honor of former Pennsylvania governors: David Lawrence, governor from 1959 to 1963; William Scranton, governor from 1963 to 1967; and Raymond Shafer, governor from 1967 to 1971.
The groundbreaking event included recognition of Diane Shafer Domnick, daughter of Governor Shafer.
During the Phase IV construction, Maple Street, from Pratt Drive to Eleventh Street, will be closed.
Up to four hundred individuals are working on the Residential Revival construction project, and between 35 to 40 percent of those workers are from the Indiana region. Approximately 12 percent of construction spending for the first three phases of the project has gone to regional subcontractors.
The Foundation for IUP, a nonprofit entity, will own the buildings once completed. The Foundation is coordinating the construction of the project through developer Allen and O'Hara of Memphis, Tenn.
Massaro Corp. of Pittsburgh is the general contractor for the project. The buildings were designed by WTW Architects of Pittsburgh.
With the completion of the Crimson Suites, IUP will have eight residence halls that are part of the Residential Revival. Fourteen buildings have been razed for the project.
Whitmyre Hall, home to the Robert E. Cook Honors College, and University Towers, apartment-style living for upperclassmen, remain open for students.
The Foundation for IUP has once again authorized the donation of surplus furniture from the buildings being razed to a variety of nonprofit agencies, including the Christian Appalachian Project, Indiana County Community Action Program, Camp Lambec, and area churches.
This program was initiated in 2008 by students participating in IUP's Alternative Spring Break program. Each charitable organization is responsible for the loading, transporting and redistribution of the donated items. More than 6,500 pieces have been donated from the final two phases of the project.
Phase III of the Residential Revival—Sutton Suites, at Pratt Drive and Grant Street, and the Suites on Pratt, along Maple Street—will open for Fall with 1,084 beds.
To make way for these buildings, Campus Towers, Esch and Wallace halls, and the Pechan Health Center were razed.
Sutton Suites includes a number of rooms for meetings and recreation, as well as a multipurpose room that accommodates up to 150 people. The Suites on Pratt will remain open during university breaks to accommodate international students.
The Phase II buildings, open since Fall 2008, are the Suites on Maple East and West and the Northern Suites. These buildings provide 1,102 beds for students. The Suites on Maple East building houses the Center for Health and Well-Being, and the Suites on Maple West includes the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
The Phase I buildings, open since Fall 2007, include Susan Snell Delaney Hall and Donna D. Putt Hall. These buildings offer 746 beds and, in their amenities space, house the Informational Technology Support Center, the Office of Social Equity and Civic Engagement, the African American Cultural Center, the Office of International Education, and the Applied Research Laboratory.
During the four phases of the Residential Revival, IUP will maintain its current bed capacity of approximately 3,800.
The Residential Revival project is participating in a national program called LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. All of the buildings in the project are designed to reflect a “green building” philosophy.
The Residential Revival project was approved by the IUP Council of Trustees in December 2004 and by the State System of Higher Education Board of Governors in January 2005.
The Residential Revival had its beginnings in Spring 2004, with an extensive planning and discussion process involving students, faculty, and other members of the IUP and Indiana communities.
Throughout the planning process, IUP officials have maintained their commitment that the project will replace current housing and not add capacity.
Pictured breaking ground at top are, from left, Diane Shafer Domnick, daughter of late Governor Raymond Shafer; Tim Rupert, Foundation for IUP; Jon Longwill, representing state Representative Dave Reed; Sandy Gillette, representing state Senator Don White; Rodney Ruddock, Indiana County commissioner; Susan Delaney, vice chair, IUP Council of Trustees; Dan Prushnok, president, Foundation for IUP board of directors; Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president; Joseph Trimarchi, vice president, Services Group, First Commonwealth; Joseph Dell, executive vice president of corporate banking, First Commonwealth; Miles Palasz, representing Congressman John Murtha; Carolyn Snyder and Gealy Wallwork, members of the IUP Council of Trustees; Wally Wilcox, vice president for construction and engineering from Allen and O'Hara; Tim Kronenwetter, Dr. Ruth Riesenman, and Robert Marcus, Foundation for IUP board members; and Lynn Barger, acting vice president for University Relations and acting executive director for the Foundation for IUP.