EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — At the heart of campus at East Stroudsburg University sits the University Center. Now, a new center is taking shape.
The university broke ground on the new four-story building in August of 2022.
Campus leaders gave Newswatch 16 a look at the progress.
"It's super exciting on campus just to see the building come together," said John Bloshinski, director of facilities. "It's been in the planning stages for so long, and now we have the opportunity to see the massing actually come together. We're starting to see some materials.
"When I was hired in 2013, we were talking about this building. So just imagine, 11 years ago, we were talking about doing the building. It's changed a little bit, but it's meeting the same needs," said East Stroudsburg University Kenneth Long.
President Long says growth in enrollment was at the center of the plans from day one while also looking ahead at future growth.
"This past fall, we had the largest enrollment growth in a decade with about 10, 11 percent growth year over year in new students," Long said.
The building will be home to an updated bookstore and ballroom, a new esports center, an art gallery, a commuter student lounge, and offices for organizations and student clubs.
"It's designed intentionally for what we are trying to do in education. So, when our faculty want to have an event that's co-curricular with our Student Activities Association, we can do that collaboratively and effectively without having to bus everyone somewhere else," Long said.
Once the new University Center is complete, the old center will come down and become an open space for students.
"That building will be demolished, and an outdoor amphitheater will be built in that location. It will open this building up to Normal Street," Bloshinski explained.
The $92 million project is expected to be completed by next spring.