Penn GSE showcases new space at building opening celebration
Cutting the ribbon at the Oct. 25 celebration are (from left) GSE Board of Advisors chair Jeff McKibben, GSE Dean Katharine Strunk, Penn President Liz Magill, former GSE Dean Pam Grossman, and GSE board member and former chair Doug Korn. (Holden Blanco for Penn GSE)
Nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate the opening of a transformative $35.6 million expansion and renovation project at Penn GSE October 25. The culmination of years of planning and 18 months of construction, the remarkable educational space promises to redefine the landscape of learning.
Designed to consolidate Penn GSE’s degree programs in one location, the project adds 16,200 square feet and includes 16,900 square feet of renovated and reconfigured space. It connects two adjacent 1960s-era buildings: 3700 Walnut Street, built in 1962 and last renovated in 2001, and Stiteler Hall, built in 1966 and last renovated in 1980.
The grand opening event offered a range of activities, including self-guided tours, a dedication ceremony for the new courtyard, food and drinks, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. From student lounges to additional collaboration spaces designed for the next generation of education leaders, the new space is intended to unify the Penn GSE community and inspire creativity.
This visionary "One Penn GSE" concept comes to life in the thoughtful design of every corner of this space, Penn President Liz Magill said. For example, the expansive use of glass throughout the building serves as a constant reminder for those inside to look beyond, Magill noted, embracing an outward-facing perspective that is deeply ingrained in Penn's culture.
“This new space isn’t just drywall and glass and steel, rather it’s the culmination of a vision that has been years in the making,” said Dean Katharine Strunk. “It is our response to the incredible growth we’ve experienced as a School over the last two decades and the evolving needs of our students, faculty, staff, and the wider Penn GSE community, both on campus and beyond.”
Read the story in Penn Today to see more photos of the event and the new building, as well as a timelapse video of the construction.