Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, dedicated the Robert and Sally Metzgar Admissions and Alumni Center on June 22. Nearly 200 guests attended the outdoor dedication ceremony, followed by a reception and tours of the building, which is situated near the northeast corner of the Reed Union Building parking lot.
Speakers included Jack Burke, chancellor of Penn State Behrend; Robert Metzgar, former president and owner of Warren-based North Penn Pipe and Supply Inc.; Steve Garban, chairman of Penn State's Board of Trustees; Kurt Buseck, chairman of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows; and Stephen Burger, a senior finance major from New Castle, Pa., and a recipient of the Robert and Sally Nelson Metzgar Leadership Scholarship.
"The Metzgar Center has already cemented its role as a key piece of the college's landscape," Burke said. "We are grateful to the Metzgars for making their vision a reality."
The $4.7 million, two-story Metzgar Center serves as the "front door" of the college -- a central, accessible facility that bookends students' time on campus. The 14,028-square-foot building houses the offices of five key departments for prospective students, current students and alumni -- admissions, financial aid, alumni relations, bursar and registrar -- in one central location.
"This building isn't about Sally and me. This building is about Penn State Behrend and its students," said Robert Metzgar. He encouraged those in attendance to think about how they can give back to the college.
"This is the perfect anchor for the college and a natural stopping place for when I return as an alumnus," Burger said. "Like Bob Metzgar, I know that my experiences and education at Penn State Behrend will become a solid foundation for my future successes."
Students involved in design; Goal is LEED certification
In July 2008, Penn State Behrend announced that Robert and Sally Metzgar had committed $2 million to the college for creation of the new center.
At the Metzgars' request, Penn State architecture students were included in the design process. As part of their assignment, students created sketches based on the project's actual parameters. Some of their proposed elements are reflected in the final facility.
The students were taught by Herman Weber, a Penn State visiting associate professor who is design principal and founder of Weber Murphy Fox. Weber is the architect for the project. Perry Construction Group of Erie is the general contractor.
The Metzgar Center was designed to integrate and complement the architecture of five existing structures: the Metzgars' home, a restored residence from the mid-19th century called Cobham Castle; Glenhill Farmhouse, the core of the Behrend estate that houses the college's administration; and Lilley Library, Kochel Center and Reed Union Building, each of which are adjacent to the new facility.
The Metzgar Center was also designed with the goal of making it eligible for LEED certification. Formally known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED is a third-party affirmation that is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
LEED buildings meet criteria in five key areas of human and environmental health, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Engineers are in the process of gathering the data necessary to apply for LEED certification.
About the Metzgars
In addition to serving as former president and owner of North Penn Pipe and Supply Inc., a wholesale supplier of materials, goods and services to oil and gas exploration companies and industrial suppliers, Robert Metzgar is a University Trustee Emeritus and member of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows, which is composed of community and business leaders who advise the college's administrators on issues related to the college's development and regional need.
In 1996, Metzgar was nominated and named a Penn State Behrend Alumni Fellow, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Penn State Alumni Association and administered in cooperation with Penn State’s academic colleges. Since 1973, the award has been given to a select group of alumni who are leaders in their professional fields.
Metzgar attended Penn State Behrend for two years and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University Park campus. He and Sally have two adult children, a son, Kelly, and a daughter, Kathy Metzgar Lang, who are both Penn State alumni. Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Kathy earned a bachelor's degree in individual and family studies plus a master's degree in counselor education.