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PennWest University California holds groundbreaking for new science building

By Karen Mansfield 3 min read
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A groundbreaking for the PennWest University California Science Building that is slated to open in 2027 was held Monday. From left are state Rep. Bud Cook; Fawn Petrosky, PennWest California vice president of finance; Dr. Brena Fredette, PennWest California chief academic officer; Kathy L.Pape, trustee; Reggie McNeil of the Department of General Services; and Dr. Jonathan Anderson, president of PennWest University.
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PennWest University President Dr. Jonathan Anderson speaks Monday at the groundbreaking of the California Science Building.
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PennWest University California student Declan Johnson, a chemistry major and mathematics minor, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of the university’s newest building.
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Artist rendering of new science building at PennWest California

CALIFORNIA – It’s a new era for science education at Pennsylvania Western University California as the school held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday on a multimillion-dollar building that will serve as a gateway for the school’s science students.

“The opportunities this facility will bring to our students and faculty are boundless,” said Dr. Jonathan Anderson, president of PennWest University. “It will serve as a hub for research, hands-on learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This is more than a building. It is a promise to our community and Western Pennsylvania that we are invested in shaping the future of science and technology.”

The science building is PennWest California’s newest addition to the campus.

The 63,500-square-foot facility is part of a $39 million project funded by the Department of General Services. It is set to open in early 2027, and will be home for students studying biology, Earth and environmental sciences, chemistry, and physics.

The science building will house 17 science labs and 19 support spaces, and will include specialized labs for physics, general science, biology and chemistry, said Dr. Brenda Fredette, PennWest’s chief academic officer.

“Today, we are building more than a structure. We’re creating a legacy of learning, discovery and innovation that will shape our students and our world,” said Fredette.

Sustainability is a key feature, and the new building is anticipated to use 20% less energy compared to similar facilities and “reflects our dedication to creating spaces that respect and enhance our environment,” Fredette said.

Once the new building is complete, Frich Hall, built in 1972, and New Science Hall, constructed in 1959, will be demolished and converted to open lawn areas for student use and recreation.

Dr. Jacqueline Knaust, interim dean of the College of Science, Technology, and Business, said the new science building “is absolutely critical for us to attract and retain students and faculty, and for us to provide continued hands-on learning experiences.”

Declan Johnson, a chemistry major and mathematics minor at PennWest California, said the new science building will be “the beating heart of PennWest California’s scientific endeavors.

“It is the medium by which burgeoning intellects will begin their journeys and scientists, doctors, and most importantly, as educated individuals who have been taught the necessity of critical reasoning and the values of higher education,” he said.

Johnson noted his great-grandmother, Sarah Firestone, attended the campus nearly 100 years ago, when it was called California State Teachers College. He said the college “has evolved to a broad and academically rigorous university that is preparing its students for the new world ahead.”

“Fast forward nearly a century,” said Johnson. “I think that those in the classes of the 1920s and ’30s would be proud of their alma mater today and its evolution.”

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