An (East Stroudsburg University) ESU Center has broken ground at the school’s demolished Center for Hospitality Management site in Pennsylvania. This is a $76.4 million project which provides a larger space for students to gather and socialize.
ESU’s Interim President, Kenneth Long said the previous building was suitable decades ago when ESU had around 2,500 students. However, in recent times the school’s student population has grown to about 6500 students. Long pointed out that the new ESU Center would also provide a lot more amenities besides an eating court.
Development plans for the University’s new ESU Center
One key feature of the ESU Center will be a ballroom capable of accommodating 900 people for lecture seating. It will also have the capacity to hold a banquet with 400 people. Therefore, the events which were previously held at Keystone Room will take place at the new building upon completion. Additionally, the new center will feature meeting rooms, lounges, a campus bookstore, and a theater.
The University also plans to include dedicated spaces at the ESU Center for various groups. Some of these new facilities will include an Association chamber, a radio station, as well as Stroud Courier offices. On top of that, it also features a Sexuality Center, a Center for Multicultural Affairs, and Inclusive Education for veteran students.
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The acting secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services, Joseph Lee, said the ESU Center is due for delivery by 2025. He also said the building’s design plan shows that it will use 14% less energy than other buildings nationwide. Therefore, ESU is targeting the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating.
Besides building a new ESU Center, the University is working on other improvements on the campus. Some of these upgrades will involve making the Fine Arts building more accessible and expanding the video board at Eiler-Martin Stadium. Additionally, the University will also partner with St. Luke’s University Health and Lehigh Valley Health to install a health sciences simulation lab.
