West Chester breaks ground on $39 million, 90,000-square-foot academic building

A model of West Chester University's $39 million, five-story, 90,000-square-foot academic building.

West Chester University broke ground on a new $39 million, five-story, 90,000-square-foot academic building that will house its college of business and public affairs.

The structure will be constructed on the site of McCarthy Hall, which is a residence hall at Sharpless and South Church streets, that will be razed to make way for the new building.

West Chester has seen significant growth in its business program, which is now its second largest. Once the new building is completed, the business college will be able to consolidate its 10 departments. Faculty are now dispersed throughout the campus. The building is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

Voith-MacTavish Architects and Moody-Nolan Ltd. are the architects. The team designed the building's archway entrance to look similar to the collegiate Gothic style of the school's historic Philips Memorial building.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal