‘Focusing on Learning, Not Just Teaching’: WCU Fully Opens New Sciences & Engineering Center

West Chester University has fully opened its newest building on campus called the Sciences & Engineering Center and The Commons, writes Susan Snyder for the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

The 175,000-square-foot facility is a dining hall and academic building. It is the largest building project on the WCU campus and in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. 

The project took longer to complete than originally expected due to the pandemic and cost more than the projected $130 million. The official ribbon-cutting will take place this week. 

The structure includes classrooms, auditorium, and lecture spaces, along with areas for student activities. It is home to WCU’s nursing program which used to be located seven miles from campus as well as the new biomedical engineering program. Also located in the new building are health sciences, math, physics, and other sciences. 

“This is the first academic building that we have put up that really has had a primary focus on learning and not just teaching,” said West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino. 

The building partially opened last fall for student classes, with the dining room and some other areas opening for the first time this semester. 

Read more about the building in the Philadelphia Inquirer.