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MARYWOOD University’s decision to start an architecture program has given the region something wonderful on which to build.
On Tuesday, the small Catholic university welcomed its first class of architecture students – 50 young men and women in all, nearly double the number of enrollees that this startup school had originally intended.
Design-minded students were drawn to Marywood’s Scranton campus, in part, because of the building in which they will take classes. A converted gymnasium, the new Center for Architectural Studies can perhaps best be classified as “cool.” Or, maybe, “green.” For certain folks these days, the two terms are interchangeable.
Planners of the $4.5 million renovation project made sure to incorporate many of today’s trendiest, energy-efficient building techniques. For example, a rooftop garden will capture rainwater for re-use in the lavatory. Likewise, lofty windows allow ample natural light to flood the rooms, reducing the need for electric-powered lights.
More than 80 percent of the construction waste generated by the 10-month renovation project was recycled, said Dean Gregory K. Hunt. Maple flooring from an aerobics studio was reclaimed to help fashion a staircase.
Perhaps the only drawback to the structure is this: It might be so appealing to students that they won’t leave campus. And, quite frankly, we hope these future architects will venture far, engaging in community projects that benefit themselves and the region.
Certainly, these students’ newfound skills and insights could be useful to any of the area’s Habitat for Humanity chapters. Its volunteers build and renovate homes for low-income families, who purchase the dwellings through affordable mortgages.
Similarly, the Commission on Economic Opportunity, a nonprofit program based in Wilkes-Barre that has been a longtime proponent of solar power, might benefit from the students’ assistance with its home weatherization projects. It tries to help families ensure their homes are adequately insulated and draft-free for a comfortable winter season.
Might there also be collaborations with Eckley Miners Village, the state-operated historical site near Hazleton? A panel recently suggested that the village acquire help in restoring and preserving many of this former patch town’s antiquated houses.
Dreams?
That’s what we want these young minds to do. Consider the potential, the possibility, the “what if.”
Marywood’s program is a welcome addition to the academic potpourri available to area residents who want to earn professional degrees near home. Already, it has attracted students such as Jillian Soprano, an alumna of Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre, and Jackson Township resident Molly Murphy, a graduate of Lake-Lehman High School.
Promoters point out that it is the only architecture degree-offering program in Northeastern Pennsylvania; previously, the nearest options for area residents were in Syracuse, N.Y., and Philadelphia.
Similarly, The Commonwealth Medical College made its debut in the region this school year, providing a place for future doctors to pursue their passion.
Homegrown physicians? Area architects?
We see lots of opportunities in these emerging programs and hope Marywood’s students are quick to construct “bridges” to the broader community.