WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – 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 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 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. “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. “I’m thrilled to say that these changes achieved their intended goals: First-year student enrollment exceeded our projections.”