West Chester University Initiates Major Expansion

West Chester University is engaged in $115-million in campus construction projects. Focusing on graduate education, the Pennsylvania school has partnered with private developer College Park Campus Apartments, an affiliate of GMH Capital Realty of Newton, to construct two residence halls totalling $40-million. The project, slated for completion in 2004, includes one 250-bed residence hall and eleven garden-style apartment buildings housing 500 beds. A 450-car, 145,000-sf parking garage and a 415-car, 146,000-sf parking deck are expected to reach completion by the end of 2003 and mid-2004. A $15-million, 55,000-sf renovation of the Schmucker Science Center will add three classrooms and a planetarium, and will include technological and mechanical upgrades to the existing structure. The University has purchased a $7.15-million, 47,700-sf office building in the Greenhill Corporate Center three miles from the main campus to house the Graduate School of Business. The business school will rent classrooms to local businesses for day use. Slated for completion in 2005, the 89,000-sf, $27-million School of Music and Performing Arts Center will contain classrooms, a practice room, a music library, a 125-seat recital hall, and a 375-seat performance hall. Also planned is the $22-million, 85,000-sf Business and Information Technology Center. Slated to open in 2007, the center will provide space for instruction in undergraduate business, computer science and technology.