Campus Enhancements Extend Campus Footprint into Downtown Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes received the 2018 Pride of Place award from the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s annual dinner held on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Twp. The University was recognized for the Campus Gateway Project.
The Pride of Place Awards are presented to businesses and organizations that have improved the physical environment of the area through new construction, restoration, renovation and environmental enhancement.
Part of the University’s ongoing $100 million campus enhancement initiative, the Campus Gateway Project has reshaped the landscape within three blocks of downtown Wilkes-Barre. Highlights of the initiative include new entrances to the Henry Student Center parking lot from South River Street and South Franklin Street. The project also expanded south entrance plaza to the student center with landscaping and outdoor seating. The parking area now reaches South Franklin Street with a pedestrian walkway connecting to the Henry Student Center.
The second component is the expansion of the Karambelas East Campus Gateway into the heart of campus. The gateway, constructed in 2015, connects South Main Street to South Franklin Street. The expansion of the gateway into the Fenner Quadrangle ensures a cross section of walkways defining and connecting the Wilkes campus for students, faculty and staff as well as visitors. Additionally, the project created the new South Campus Gateway, which connects the Henry Student Center to Stark Learning Center. These two Gateways beautify the campus and support recent renovations to the engineering labs in Stark Learning Center.
