Wilkes University Breaks Ground On $3 Million In Campus Enhancements

The media are invited to a groundbreaking ceremony with campus and community officials on Monday, May 21

Wilkes-Barre, PA (05/18/2018) — Contact information: Gabrielle D'Amico, director of communications, gabrielle.damion@wilkes.edu, 570-408-4510

Wilkes University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 21 to kick off more than $3.3 million in campus enhancements. The event will take place on the walkway next to Capin Hall at 165 South Franklin Street. Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy will be joined by Senator John Yudichak, Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, and Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George for remarks.

The projects, primarily focused on the Fenner Quadrangle and the area around the Henry Student Center, will transform Wilkes University into a park-like campus in the heart of the City of Wilkes-Barre. The project combines University resources with Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development funds to beautify the campus and surrounding neighborhood, while improving pedestrian safety and alleviating traffic congestion. Completion is expected in August.

Notable projects include:

A $2 million project that will create new entrances to the Henry Student Center parking lot from South River Street and South Franklin Street. The project also includes an expanded south entrance plaza to the student center with landscaping and outdoor seating. The parking area will be expanded to South Franklin Street with a pedestrian walkway connecting to the Henry Student Center. The project is partially funded by the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) program, which provides grants for transportation-related projects. Wilkes received a $650,000 grant in 2016. The MTF grants are provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

A $1.3 million expansion of the Karambelas East Campus Gateway into the heart of campus. The gateway, constructed in 2015, connects South Main Street to South Franklin Street. The expansion of the gateway into the Fenner Quadrangle ensures a cross section of walkways defining and connecting the Wilkes campus for students, faculty and staff as well as visitors. Additionally, this project will create the new South Campus Gateway, which will connect the Henry Student Center to Stark Learning Center. These two Gateways will beautify the campus and support recent renovations to the engineering labs in Stark Learning Center.

For more information, please contact Gabrielle D'Amico at (570) 592-7839. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place in Weckesser Hall, 170 South Franklin Street.

Media Attachments