On September 23, 2020, we broke ground on the new home of the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Once completed, the more than 142,000-square-foot Kopchick Hall will be the hub of activity for all things science and math at IUP. Thanks to the generosity of many alumni and friends of IUP, the building that once seemed like a dream will soon be a reality, creating opportunities for students and fostering relationships that will impact our community, our region, and our world.
“We change lives through science and math. Our graduates change the world as educators, scientists, and leaders.”
Progress Through Pictures
A year after its groundbreaking, Kopchick Hall—IUP’s future home of science—is well on its way to opening in 2023. See the full story.
Kopchick Hall Construction Time-Lapse
This video shows the construction of Kopchick Hall from March 10, 2020, through September 8, 2023.
Funding Not Transferable
Financially challenged, IUP announced in October 2020 an academic restructuring that would reduce its number of programs and employees. Some have asked if funds earmarked for construction of Kopchick Hall could be used instead to save IUP jobs and programs.
The answer is no. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services, and not IUP, pays for the construction of academic buildings, like Kopchick Hall. IUP was required to fundraise $9.7 million of the $90-million construction cost, but those funds have since become the property of the Department of General Services and have been used toward the building's design and construction.
About Kopchick Hall
Special Features
- 3 flexible classrooms
- 2 multipurpose computer labs
- 16 flexible teaching labs w/ shared instrumentation spaces
- 43 research lab modules
- 72 faculty offices
- Dean's Suite office, includes conference room and six offices
- 4 Department offices with nine faculty and admin offices
- Collaboration spaces for group study, conference, tutoring
- Student organization space
Timeline
Initial Job Conference / Phase 1 Begin
July 24, 2020
Construction Site Fencing
August 7, 2020
Groundbreaking
September 23, 2020
Demolition of Walsh Complete
October 30, 2020
Concrete Footers Completed
April 30, 2021
Steel Erection Begins
May 1, 2021
Exterior Cladding Complete
August 30, 2022
Steel Erection Completed
October 30, 2021
Exterior Landscaping and Site Work
May 15, 2023
Phase 1 Construction Completion
August 1, 2023
Occupy Building (Move In)
December 16, 2023 – January 22, 2024
Opening
Spring 2024
Hold Classes
January, 2024 (Spring 2024 Classes)
Phase 2 Weyandt Demolition Begin
February 1, 2024
Phase 2 Weyandt Demolition Complete
September 1, 2024
Planetarium
The planetarium is used extensively in astronomy and planetary science classes for majors in the Geoscience Department, in campus-wide survey courses, and in programs for the general public.
Roof Terrace/Green Roof
Sitting atop the Cejka Planetarium, the open-air terrace supports research plots used in biology and geoscience classes. The area surrounding the green roof planters will be used for open-air receptions and events.
Laboratories
Lab space is precious, and Kopchick Hall will have enough to help students get hands-on mentoring from the faculty in flexible laboratory classrooms, an imaging lab, anatomy lab, vivarium, and more.
Tutoring Rooms
These rooms will help students enhance their understanding of classroom topics, and faculty will be able to continue the side-by-side relationships that make learning a growth process. For everyone involved, these rooms will help further IUP's mission to push students to reach heights they used to think were out of reach.
Teaching Laboratory
Gone are the days of one room, one program. These rooms can be configured for any number of laboratory classes, with equipment at the ready.
#ScienceMatters at IUP
Support of Kopchick Hall
Kopchick Hall is possible thanks to the generosity of the following IUP alumni. If you want to support Kopchick Hall, you can make a gift online.
Media assets are available in the online gallery.