PHOTO: Clare Hall features new murals painted by students.
By Kristin Eck and Dylan Correll
Alvernia Executive Director of Residence Life Logan Houptley, M.S., discusses the recent campus upgrades.
How have the residence hall updates helped enhance the student experience?
LH: The residence halls of Clare, Anthony, Francis, Holleran and Judge have undergone cosmetic updates. Each lounge was refreshed, including new paint, carpeting and furniture. These updates highlight modern, movable furniture with slide feet and sectional seating that caters to inclusivity and flexibility.
How did student focus groups contribute to the design of the residence hall lounges?
LH: The design process was driven by input from focus groups that consisted of between six to eight students and included resident assistants (RAs) and student leaders across various academic years. Their vision was clear: They wanted the lounges to feel like living rooms rather than study areas. This desire led to spaces distinct from the university library’s more formal study environment. These collaborative discussions ensured the lounges prioritized comfort, functionality and inclusivity. The furniture was designed to be cleanable and housekeeping friendly, ensuring all students feel welcome and at home.
What honored tradition allows the first-year communities to contribute to a legacy?
LH: The university has brought new life to a cherished tradition in the first-year communities of Anthony, Francis, Veronica and Clare. These residence halls proudly feature murals painted by students. Some murals are over 20 years old and were refreshed by the students as a sendoff. This blend of preserving tradition while encouraging creativity ensures that each mural leaves a lasting impression, one that future students can appreciate and contribute to.
How do the upgraded spaces in the residence halls foster a strong sense of community among students?
LH: The upgraded spaces aim to bring students out of their rooms and into community lounges, fostering interaction and building connections. Since the updates, the lounges have been full of activity, hosting residence hall programs, meet-and-greets and informal gatherings. The design aligns with Alvernia’s mission to create spaces where students can relax, collaborate, and feel at home.
More updates in downtown Reading
Since purchasing the building in 2019, Alvernia has invested over $40 million into its John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, a 250,000-square-foot living and learning facility in downtown Reading. Recent updates to the site include:
- Millions of dollars of hands-on, real-world equipment added to the John R. Post School of Engineering, which is located on the first floor of the building that shares its namesake.
- The debut of the John and Karen Arnold School of Nursing and its cutting-edge 55,000-square-foot interprofessional Healthcare Simulation Center on the building’s second floor.
- State-of-the-art hybrid lab/classrooms for students in the Physician Associate and Occupational Therapy programs, which recently relocated to the site’s third floor.
