Thiel College issued the following announcement.
Area elected officials and members of the Mercer County Industrial Development Authority and Penn-Northwest Development Corporation were among the more than 40 people in attendance Thursday as Thiel College kicked off the first phase of $16 million in construction projects on campus.
“We are committed to enriching the lives of our students. Many of those are from western Pa. and will use their skills to enrich the region,” President Susan Traverso, Ph.D. said. “Thiel College and our students continue to thrive.”
Phase I improvements in the Rhodehouse Science Building will unfold over this academic year, with the graduate floor opening in July 2021, just in time for the launch of the Physician Assistant graduate program and the second year of the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program. The substantial renovation of the Rhodehouse Science Building and the Academic Center, the largest academic building on campus, will create innovative lab and classroom spaces. The physician assistant program facilities will include a new cadaver lab. The construction in Phase 1 is also supported by $1 million for improvements to laboratories, classrooms and common areas awarded to the College through a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
“This project is very important to (Mercer) County, but not just Mercer but many of the counties in the region,” said Gary Dovey, assistant secretary and treasurer of the Mercer County Industrial Development Authority and vice president of the Penn-Northwest Development Corporation.
Dovey said it was a long process to arrange the financing and there was quite a celebration when the approvals of the project became official.
State Senator Michele Brooks, state Representatives Mark Longietti and Parke Wentling and Mercer County Commissioner Matt McConnell also attended the event.
Also scheduled are improvements in the Bane, Stewart, and Sawhill residence halls to be completed between November 2020 and February 2021. Construction on Phase II in the Science and Academic centers, as well as investments in Athletics and a new roof on Roth Hall will begin in May 2021 and are targeted for completion in August 2022.
The College opened Phase 1 of the project to competitive bids, and local contractors have been selected for these vital improvements.
The College is in the planning stages of Phase 2 and will be working with elected officials, donors and friends of the College to secure additional support.
Original source can be found here.
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