Thiel College Breaks Ground for Spence Academic Center

GREENVILLE, Pa.– Thiel College celebrated the groundbreaking of the Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center Friday, marking the beginning of a transformative multi-million-dollar renovation project for its largest academic building.

Daniel Spence and his late wife, Dorothy, made the lead gift of $4 million for the project. Thiel College President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., board chair and executive director of Penn-Northwest Development Corp. Rod E. Wilt, and vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college Greg Q. Butcher, Ph.D. were joined by members of the Spence family, the Thiel College community, including student leaders and regional media organizations. Area residents and elected officials and their representatives were also on hand for the event.

The renovation of the Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center is a multi-phased project that will continue over the next few years. The 2024 efforts will focus on enhancing multiple entryways, the main lobby, and the lower level, which will include a new office suite and significant investment for the Department of Nursing. Future enhancements are set to modernize labs, classrooms, and the entrance to Langenheim Memorial Library.

Originally dedicated in April 1971, the Academic Center is a multi-level educational complex that features 11 classrooms, the 300-seat Bly Lecture Hall, five seminar rooms, 24 laboratories, a computer center, five specialized teaching facilities, and 55 faculty offices.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.