A new campus arrival facility at Kutztown University brings together historic preservation and new construction while expanding space for admissions, visitor services and campus engagement. STV provided construction management services for the Hawkinson Welcome Center in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
The Hawkinson Welcome Center combines the renovation of the historic Poplar House with a 10,300-square-foot addition. The expanded facility houses admissions offices, visitor services, meeting rooms, gathering areas and support spaces.
The project creates a centralized location for prospective students, families, alumni and community members visiting the university. Its location at Kutztown Road and College Boulevard also provides a defined arrival point for campus visitors.
Integrating new construction with the century-old Poplar House required project teams to respond to existing conditions that became clearer as construction progressed. Coordination between the historic structure and the new addition was an important part of maintaining project requirements.
STV served as Kutztown University’s construction management partner, overseeing quality assurance and quality control, reviewing field conditions and monitoring compliance with drawings and specifications.
The project used Pennsylvania’s multiple-prime delivery structure, requiring coordination among multiple contractors, the design team, university stakeholders and the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. STV also helped manage requests for information and address schedule and cost impacts associated with field conditions.
Because the university remained an active campus during construction, project decisions also had to consider visitor access, campus activities and operational requirements.
The completed Welcome Center provides Kutztown University with dedicated space for campus tours, recruitment events and community activities. The project also builds on STV’s long-term work with the university, which dates to the mid-1990s and includes academic, student life, dining, arts and infrastructure projects.
For higher education owners and construction teams, the project demonstrates the coordination required when new facilities are delivered alongside historic buildings on operating campuses. The combination of renovation and expansion allows the university to preserve an existing campus asset while adding space for current admissions and visitor needs.
Source: STV.
