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A year after its groundbreaking, Kopchick Hall—IUP’s future home of science—is well on its way to opening in 2023. The following photographs, including a time-lapse construction video, show progress on the building up to this point.
IUP began 2020 with a goal: start the construction of Kopchick Hall, a 142,536-square-foot launchpad for life-changing scientific discovery.
IUP began 2020 with a goal: start the construction of Kopchick Hall, a 142,536-square-foot launchpad for life-changing scientific discovery.
A year ago, on September 23, 2020, IUP celebrated the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony. John Kopchick ’72, M’75, standing in front of the future entrance to Kopchick Hall, addressed the guests. The building, along with the college it will house, is named for Kopchick and his wife, Char Labay Kopchick ’73, who committed $23 million—the largest gift in school history—to IUP natural sciences and mathematics initiatives.
A year ago, on September 23, 2020, IUP celebrated the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony. John Kopchick ’72, M’75, standing in front of the future entrance to Kopchick Hall, addressed the guests. The building, along with the college it will house, is named for Kopchick and his wife, Char Labay Kopchick ’73, who committed $23 million—the largest gift in school history—to IUP natural sciences and mathematics initiatives.
Friends since their college days, from left, John and Char Kopchick and Debra Phillips Cejka ’73 and Tim Cejka ’73 had a shared vision of seeing IUP faculty and students make transformative scientific discoveries. Their vision started to become a reality as they broke ground for the building that will become the center of all things science at IUP.
Friends since their college days, from left, John and Char Kopchick and Debra Phillips Cejka ’73 and Tim Cejka ’73 had a shared vision of seeing IUP faculty and students make transformative scientific discoveries. Their vision started to become a reality as they broke ground for the building that will become the center of all things science at IUP.
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.
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.
The Kopchicks and Cejkas returned to IUP in August 2021 to check on the progress of their vision.
The Kopchicks and Cejkas returned to IUP in August 2021 to check on the progress of their vision.
That day, IUP hosted a topping-off ceremony to commemorate the placement of the final beam atop Kopchick Hall. Many members of the IUP family signed the beam to show their commitment to science and to student research.
That day, IUP hosted a topping-off ceremony to commemorate the placement of the final beam atop Kopchick Hall. Many members of the IUP family signed the beam to show their commitment to science and to student research.
While John Kopchick may not physically be able to put the last beam in place, his support has been the cornerstone of making the new home of science at IUP a reality.
While John Kopchick may not physically be able to put the last beam in place, his support has been the cornerstone of making the new home of science at IUP a reality.
The view of Kopchick Hall from the front of North Dining shows that one beam looks different, celebrating those who invested in the new building and in the future of science at IUP.
The view of Kopchick Hall from the front of North Dining shows that one beam looks different, celebrating those who invested in the new building and in the future of science at IUP.
Click to play video

A construction camera captures several photos a day of the Kopchick Hall construction site. This time-lapse vide shows a year’s worth of progress, through September 2021.

Learn more about Kopchick Hall, IUP’s future home of science.