A rendering of Harrisburg University’s new Science Education Center
Harrisburg University has set a January date for the official opening of its new academic building in downtown Harrisburg.
On Monday, HU President Eric Darr said that he expects the 11-story academic building at S. 3rd and Chestnut streets to debut for the university’s spring 2023 semester, following a 2½–year construction process.
“We’re making great progress on it,” he said. “We expect to have students in the building this January.”
The $100 million, 210,000-square-foot Science Education Center will house health science laboratories, 3D printing facilities, advanced manufacturing equipment, a 150-seat interactive auditorium, a virtual reality creation space and other classrooms.
Darr said that he expects the university to begin to move equipment and furniture into the building this fall.
In other HU news, the university on Monday announced that it has received official notification from Middle States Commission on Higher Education that its accreditation status has been reaffirmed.
“This shows that Harrisburg University meets the very high standards set by the commission without exception,” Darr said. “Middle States accreditation is an expression of confidence in our mission and goals, our performance, and our resources.”
In addition, on Monday, HU and Harristown Enterprises jointly announced that the HU Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will locate inside of Strawberry Square, into 4,000 square feet of space formerly occupied by the Hallmark gift and card store.
The center’s mission is to help innovators build successful ventures, including HU students and faculty, as well as entrepreneurs from the community, according to the university. It should open this summer following renovations and build-out, Darr said.
“The CIE is a multi-pronged hub that aligns entrepreneurial activities across the campus and business disciplines that feature active learning laboratories, technological suites and a makerspace,” said Jay Jayamohan, the center’s director.
The center has been located in various offices on the HU campus. With the move, the center will be able to consolidate in one location, Darr said.
The Hallmark store in Strawberry Square closed in 2020, following the outbreak of the pandemic.
For more information on Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, visit their website.
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