DUBOIS, Pa. — Penn State DuBois celebrated the opening of the Physical fitness, Athletics, and Wellness Center on Nov. 1 with campus and University leaders in attendance including Penn State DuBois Chancellor Jungwoo Ryoo; Kelly Austin, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses; Bill Sitzabee, vice president of Facilities Management and Planning and chief facilities officer; Mike Sgriccia, project executive for Alexander Building Construction; and Rebecca Pennington, director of Student Affairs.
The PAW Center’s opening is the culmination of a long-held vision to update the Multipurpose Building, which opened for use in 1967. Discussions began in 2017 around the much-needed renovation project and in 2019, Kimmel Bogrett was approved by the Penn State Board of Trustees as the architect. Like many other things during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, this highly anticipated renovation was put on hold.
Through the persistent efforts of campus leadership, retired Chancellor M. Scott McBride and retired Director of Business and Finance John Luchini, along with the Office of Physical Plant and the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, this transformational project was approved to begin construction by the Board of Trustees in July 2021.