WCU invites public to guided tour of new facility

At a time when 21st century learning has evolved dramatically, so, too, have learning spaces. West Chester University invites area residents to preview its new state-of-the-art Business and Public Management Center during a Community Open House on Saturday, May 20, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.. The facility is located at 50 Sharpless St.,, West Chester. Guided tours of the first through third floors of the 96,000-square-foot facility will be provided, as well as presentations using the latest technological equipment. Highlighting the Community Open House will be a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony led by President Christopher Fiorentino. The Community Open House is free of charge. Pre-registration is requested: https://www.wcufoundation.org/bpmc-open-house

“WCU is graduating students who think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate to solve problems, and understand the ethical implications of decisions,” said Fiorentino. “To ensure our graduates have these skills, we are mobilizing three essential resources; outstanding faculty, partnerships with business and industry, and learning environments that inspire.”

Since its opening this spring, nearly 4,000 students and faculty use the facility each week. The University’s newest learning space is the most popular academic classroom building on campus, and fosters reflective learning through teamwork and critical thinking. The building boasts cloud-based presentations and printing technologies, interactive screens, digital monitor displays and BPMC news feeds, a digital financial-ticker tape, and much more. Having earned Leed Gold Certification, the building is sustainable with daylight harvesting technology, ecofriendly mill work, touch screen energy consumption data, storm water management system, as well as a green roof.

The $45 million building houses the departments of accounting, criminal justice, economics and finance, geography and planning,

management, marketing, and public policy and administration.

It is also home to the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis Center, the Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, and the Center for Social and Economic Policy Research.

The five-story facility is made possible thanks to the support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and generous donors.