Ursinus building project underway

Ursinus College science center project underway, Berks firm awarded construction contract

COLLEGEVILLE >> Construction is moving forward on the new Innovation and Discovery Center at Ursinus College.

The building was designed by Ellenzweig Associates Inc., an architectural firm based in Massachusetts. Ground was broken for the project in October, and in January, Kinsley Construction of Wyomissing was awarded the contract to build the $29 million facility.

When it’s completed, the 42,500-square-foot center will be the college’s hub for scientific research. It will bring science, policy and entrepreneurship together under one roof, and will connect two existing buildings — Thomas Hall and Pfahler Hall.

“Demolition is currently underway, and we are scheduled to start foundations within the next 2-3 weeks,” Jack Hoy Jr., business development executive for Kinsley, said in an emailed response. “Steel will be erected from the end of May through the end of June.”

According to project information posted on Ursinus’ website, the main entrances to both Pfahler and Thomas Halls have been closed, with a new walkway opened for student use.

“The Innovation and Discovery Center will lead the way in how a new generation of liberal arts undergraduates pursue scientific knowledge,” Ursinus College President Brock

Blomberg said in an October press release announcing the project’s groundbreaking. “The (Innovation and Discovery Center) recognizes that we must teach for careers that haven’t been invented yet, which is why it will infuse policy, entrepreneurship and science with a new approach. This is an ambitious, once-in-a-generation project that will foster creative and innovative thinking, which has always been a hallmark of the Ursinus experience.”

The Innovation and Discovery Center will house Ursinus’ Parlee Center for Science and

the Common Good, which provides opportunities for students to become civically engaged scientific leaders, and the U-Imagine Center for Integrative and Entrepreneurial Studies, which encourages students to exercise innovation, leadership, imagination and creativity, according to Ursinus’ project fact sheet.

The center is the first new major construction on the Ursinus College campus in more than 10 years. Funding for the Innovation and Discovery Center is supported by the college’s “Keep the Promise,” comprehensive fundraising campaign. The remainder of the funding

is being secured through taxexempt municipal bonds.

Construction is expected to be completed in June 2018, with classes starting in Fall 2018.

Ursinus’ website includes a fact sheet about the project, live webcams of the construction, a construction update, renderings of the project and an animated virtual tour of the new building. For more information, visit www.ursinus.edu/academics/innovation-and-discoverycenter/

SUBMITTED PHOTO A rendering of the new Innovation and Discovery Center currently under construction at Ursinus College. The building was designed by Ellenzweig Associates Inc., with construction by Kinsley Construction. The project will be completed in 2018.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Ursinus College officials put “shovels in the ground” in October for its new Innovation and Discovery Center. Shown here left to right are: Jill Marsteller, senior vice president for advancement at Ursinus College; April Edwards, interim vice president...