IUP-Punxsy holds stakeholders meeting for planned Culinary Arts project

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Indiana University of Pennsylvania held a stakeholders meeting at the Punxsutawney campus located on Center Street on Wednesday.

Michael A. Driscoll, president, welcomed everyone and said an update on what is happening with the Academy of Culinary Arts project in downtown and when the work can begin is overdue.

Sam Phillips, associate VP for university operations and administration, presented the future of the new Academy of Culinary Arts buildings project:

Important Milestones: Four Distinct Project Phases:

• Multi-building demolition

• New building design culinary

• New culinary building construction

• New culinary building original fixtures and equipment

IUP reviewed history of the project.

• September 2009: Fairman Centre ribbon cutting

• February 2018: Initial draft, Academy of Culinary Arts master plan, building location options

• August 2018: Foundation for IUP donation of three properties: Fairman Centre, Agape and Miller

• March 2021: IUP acquisition of Dorothy Miller property

• October 2021: $2 million funding allocation approval for multibuilding demolition

• March 2022: Updated Academy of Culinary Arts master plan endorsed by IUP Council of Trustees

• October 2022: $2.9 Million funding allocation the approval for new culinary building design

• May 2023: State system capital spending plan funding request for culinary building replacement elevated to top priority for 2023 funding allocation

• February 2024: $17.1 million funding allocation approval for new culinary building construction.

Phillips said the state is funding the building project through demolition, design of the building, construction and a portion of the furniture and equipment.

However, IUP’s culinary arts program needs its new building to exceed what can be funded through the state, and the project will be short of funding for all the items needed.

He said there are many opportunities to assist the culinary arts program’s new building needs.

Donor funding will be needed to complete the project for such items as:

• Specialized culinary equipment and furniture

• Many building enhancements that are not funded by the state.

• The likely budget difference between the total state funding allocation and the total cost of the construction due to overall construction project needs.

There will be naming opportunities for the whole building: classrooms, kitchens, dining room, specialized spaces, lobby, conference rooms, large gathering room, outdoor kitchen demonstration area and more.

UP University Advancement will assist with donor opportunity inquiries.

Phillips said they are hoping that demolition of the current buildings will begin this fall.