BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Had Elizabeth Hutchinson had her violin on hand, her selection of choice to note the occasion might have been "Canzonetta" from Tchaikovsky’s "Violin Concerto," a hauntingly wistful movement that spills over into a joyful melody.
Late Monday morning, Hutchinson, a Moravian University sophomore violin performance/health services major, chatted with two fellow students on the sidewalk.
Over their shoulders, things were noisily looking up as a structure was coming down.
A backhoe earlier that morning had begun tearing apart the 62-year-old Haupert Union Building, making way for a $40 million student union scheduled to open in September 2025.
“It’s kind of sad to see them tear it down. I’ve spent so much time there relaxing after classes or having lunch or in the cafe. But I’m also excited to see the new student union and what improvements there will be. So, there's a mix of emotions.”Elizabeth Hutchinson, a Moravian University sophomore
“It’s kind of sad to see them tear it down,” Hutchinson, of Bethlehem Township, said. “I’ve spent so much time there relaxing after classes or having lunch or in the cafe.
“But I’m also excited to see the new student union and what improvements there will be. So, there's a mix of emotions.”
'A transformational building'
Known colloquially as the HUB, the Haupert Union Building will undergo a three-pronged facelift: a partial-demolition, 11,000-square-feet of renovations and 53,000-square-feet of expansion — all designed to breathe fresh life to the heart of Moravian’s campus.
"This will be a transformational building."Mark Reed, VP/CFO for finance and marketing, Moravian University
“This will be a transformational building,” said Mark Reed, vice president and chief financial officer for finance and administration.
“Start there. It speaks to it being about the students in this student experience because it’s a student-centric building through and through with a focus on health and wellness.
“We feel good that this isn’t just about a big fancy building. It’s about serving the students for their everyday needs in a changing society.”
Warfel Construction, of Lancaster County, will handle all aspects of the project.
“We’ll be done with the demolition in a couple weeks,” Warfel Superintendent Sean Sally said. “We expect to start new construction by April. The whole project from start to finish should take about 18 months.”
'Time to make that investment'
The new HUB will feature dedicated spaces for overall student wellness, including resources for mental and physical health, student veterans and academic and career support.
The first floor will house the Blue and Gray Cafe, The Star dining hall and a health and counseling center.
The second floor will have the career and civic engagement suite, student organization suite and activities counsel suite.
The third floor will include a student life suite, multi-faith prayer room, wellness center, communicator lounge and designated area for student veterans.
The lower level will include a supply store, student mailboxes, storage space and student rooms featuring table tennis, billiards and television sets.
“Many of our academic buildings and athletic facilities have stayed with that growth. But the HUB is the one building that didn’t grow with the rest of the campus.Mark Reed, Moravian University vice president and chief financial officer for finance and administration
The $40 million project will be funded by private monetary gifts, a bond issue and $13 million in fundraising, Reed said.
“We’ve had great growth in terms of our student population and faculty population,” Reed said. “We have about 1,800 undergrads and a graduate population of another 700 or so.
“Many of our academic buildings and athletic facilities have stayed with that growth. But the HUB is the one building that didn’t grow with the rest of the campus.
"There have been a hodgepodge of improvements to it over the years. But it doesn’t have the quality it should have, like the rest of our buildings. So it was time to make that investment.”
