Pennsylvania College of Technology’s architecture & sustainable design program hosted a dedication on Sept. 9 to celebrate its move to a newly renovated space – on the fourth floor of the George S. Klump Academic Center – that, according to a news release, enhances student workspaces and provides room for the growing program to expand its enrollment.
The renovation was funded by a portion of a $1.4 million gift made by Coterra Energy through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program. NAP provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities.
Portions of the funding, the news release said, were also used to expand and renovate facilities for the college’s electrical academic program and to provide scholarships to veterans and first responders who have participated in Camp Freedom.
“The partnership with the Department of Community & Economic Development and Coterra has made the renovation of our architecture suite possible, expanding enrollment capacities to create access for more students to thrive,” said Michael J. Reed, president of Penn College, according to the news release. “Our enhanced instructional spaces truly equip tomorrow’s workforce regionally, nationally and globally.”
Offered since 1941, when the institution was known as Williamsport Technical Institute, the college’s architectural program most recently was housed in the Hager Lifelong Education Center. Its move to the Klump Academic Center offers an array of enhancements.
“This renovation allows us to expand our program capacity by 60 students — an increase of more than 50% — while doubling the department’s dedicated square footage, increasing the number of studios so each student has their own desk, and creating two separate general classrooms, two new computer classrooms, and two dedicated jury spaces,” said Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies, according to the news release. “I’m thrilled to say that these changes achieved their intended goals: First-year student enrollment exceeded our projections.”
The changes enhance the student learning experience and help the college to meet requirements for NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) accreditation. The college is in the process of attaining NAAB accreditation for its Bachelor of Architecture major, introduced in Fall 2023. The accreditation process takes about six years to complete and streamlines graduates’ path to registered architect licensure.
“This renovation brings us out of relatively utilitarian rooms to a space that will foster our ability to bring our art and creativity to life,” said James T. McCollum, of Hummelstown, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in architecture & sustainable design. “Each of us has our own walls and desks, allowing us to bring our own personal touches, inspiring us, and enabling us to get into a creative flow. There are significantly more windows that let in much more natural light and provide inspirational views of the campus, the mountains and sunsets. It also provides us with more open areas to spread out our designs and collaborate with one another when working on group projects.”
“I am so personally thankful for all of these upgrades to our spaces, and I know all of my fellow students greatly appreciate them, as well,” McCollum added.
To express appreciation to the Department of Community & Economic Development and Coterra Energy, Reed presented copies of the project blueprints to Rick Vilello, deputy secretary, Community Affairs and Development for DCED, and Bill desRosiers, manager of external affairs for Coterra Energy, according to the news release.
“You can change people’s lives through design,” Vilello told the future architects in the audience, encouraging them to build communities that people can be proud of: “The workforce needs places to live. When people can live anywhere, why will they choose here? As architecture students, you can design the places where people choose to live.”
“Every time I come to this campus, I am inspired by something new,” desRosiers said, noting how graduates of Penn College’s applied technology programs drive the energy industry, and the energy industry, in turn, drives all industry. “I look forward to seeing these students making an impact on this world.”
Coterra recently provided a contribution that will cover the fee for school districts and career and technical education centers to participate in Penn College’s dual enrollment program, in hopes that more high school students will be exposed to the college’s educational offerings.
Penn College offers an associate degree in architecture, a bachelor’s degree in architecture & sustainable design, and a Bachelor of Architecture. The program’s emphasis on sustainability and on providing software skills makes graduates “billable from day one,” Lester said, according to the news release.