The Foundation for IUP and IUP cut the ribbon October 8, 2010, for the Phase IV buildings of the Residential Revival, celebrating the completion of the $245-million student housing project.
In addition, the Foundation and IUP officials honored longtime Foundation board member Andrew W. Stephenson by naming the Phase IV building Andrew W. Stephenson Hall.
The Residential Revival replaced eleven residence halls with eight new buildings that integrate a “living-learning” philosophy into their design. All of the new buildings reflect a special academic or co-curricular theme, most with clusters or floors for students with common interests or majoring in specific disciplines.
“The Residential Revival reflects the university's commitment to serving our students,” Dr. David Werner, interim president, said. “This nationally recognized project brings distinction to this university and complements our efforts to recruit and retain excellent students through our living-learning programs, all designed to ensure academic success.
“Also, these new buildings complement the look of an already beautiful campus. This project not only meets our primary goal of serving our students but also serves our home community by attracting jobs and enhancing the economic climate.”
Other speakers during the program included Timothy Rupert, president of the Foundation for IUP board of directors; Dr. Jacqueline Beck, director of Academic Planning and Assessment in the College of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Michele Norwood, associate dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, who spoke about living-learning initiatives in the buildings; senior Communications Media major Daniel Minkel, of North Huntingdon; and Stephenson.
The Foundation for IUP, a nonprofit entity, owns the Residential Revival buildings, which are managed by the university.
Stephenson Hall, at Maple and Eleventh streets, accommodates 594 students and includes a three-story rotunda. It houses living-learning communities for students with special interests in business and information technology.
About Andrew Stephenson
Stephenson, a 1972 graduate of IUP, is an attorney in Washington, D.C., and a partner with the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP. He has served on the Foundation for IUP board of directors since July 2004 and on the Executive Committee. He served as cochair of the Residence Hall Committee since 2005. He has been a member of the Hotel Committee since its creation in 2008 and was appointed cochair in 2010.
In addition to his IUP degree, Stephenson holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Stephenson practices law in the areas of construction, labor law, and corporate compliance. He is the practice group leader of Holland & Knight's firmwide Construction Industry Practice Group.
In addition to his extensive experience as an advocate in alternative dispute resolution matters, Stephenson is frequently asked to serve as a private arbitrator or mediator in construction disputes.
Stephenson served in the United States Army Reserve from 1972 to 1978 and as an officer with the 11th Special Forces Group from 1975 to 1978.
Stephenson has been honored with selection for “Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers” guide, Construction Law, 2004-2010; “The Best Lawyers in America” guide, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Construction Law, 2006-2011; Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2010; and the May 2009 edition of “The Legal 500 USA,” Construction Litigation, 2010, and Corporate Counsel Edition, Super Lawyers magazine. He is a member of several professional organizations and has been an invited presenter both nationally and internationally.
About the Residential Revival
Phase I
Construction for the Residential Revival buildings began in 2006. The first phase of the project, completed for Fall 2007, included 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, the Applied Research Laboratory, and the John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security.
Delaney Hall has a theme of social justice and civic engagement and houses many students in Sociology, Political Science, Pre-Law, English, English Pre-Law, Criminology, and ROTC. It was dedicated in May 2008 in honor of longtime trustee and IUP graduate Susan Snell Delaney.
Putt Hall has a fine arts theme, with clusters for students majoring in Art and Art education (Picasso cluster), Music (Gillespie cluster), and Theater and Dance (Fosse cluster). It was dedicated in May 2009 in honor of Donna D. Putt, a graduate of IUP and past president of the Foundation for IUP.
Phase II
Phase II, completed for Fall 2008 student occupancy, included the Suites on Maple East, MG Rodney D. Ruddock Hall, and the Northern Suites. These buildings provide 1,102 beds for students.
The Suites on Maple East building includes the Center for Health and Well-Being. It has a wellness theme, with clusters for students in Nursing and Allied Health, Food and Nutrition, and Health and Physical Education.
Ruddock Hall houses the Office of Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Housing Development. It is home to many students from the College of Education and Educational Technology and includes clusters for education majors and for students majoring in Communications Media. Ruddock is a graduate of IUP and a member of several university leadership groups. The building was named in his honor in May.
The Northern Suites houses many students from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, with a cluster for women majoring in math, science, and technology. The east wing of the building also includes an intensified study cluster.
As part of the science theme for this facility, paleontological-era fossils and artifacts recently donated to the university were installed in common areas throughout this building, including a skeletal model of a triceratops named “Tracy” by student residents.
Phase III
Phase III of the Residential Revival, Gealy W. Wallwork Hall and the Suites on Pratt, opened to students in Fall 2009 with 1,084 beds.
Wallwork Hall includes a number of rooms for meetings and recreation, as well as a multipurpose room that accommodates up to 150 people. Its focus is global awareness, and it includes an Asian Studies cluster and the Piso Cervantes (Spanish) cluster. It also houses many international students and students who are English speaking but would like an international roommate. Wallwork Hall will remain open during university breaks to accommodate international students.
Gealy Wallwork is a longtime member of the Council of Trustees. The building was dedicated in his honor in December 2009.
The Suites on Pratt's theme is leadership development.
More about the Residential Revival
Delaney and Putt halls have both been certified as “green” buildings in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program through the U.S. Green Building Council. The Foundation for IUP has also applied for LEED certification for the remaining buildings.
The project developer was Allen and O'Hara of Memphis, Tenn. Massaro Corp. of Pittsburgh was the general contractor. The buildings were designed by WTW Architects of Pittsburgh.
During the four phases of the Residential Revival, IUP has maintained its current bed capacity of approximately 3,900.
The scope and magnitude of the Residential Revival has been recognized on a national scale, including features in the Chronicle of Higher Education and College Services, a journal published by the National Association of College Auxiliary Services.
The Residential Revival project was approved by the Council of Trustees in December 2004 and by the State System of Higher Education Board of Governors in January 2005.
Whitmyre Hall, the living-learning community that is home to the Robert E. Cook Honors College, and University Towers, an apartment-style building for upperclassmen, were not part of the Residential Revival. In addition, traditional housing facilities McCarthy and Elkin halls remain open to students.
Photos by Keith Boyer, university photographer