California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center
Encyclopedia
The California University of Pennsylvania
Convocation Center is a multi-purpose arena
being built in California, Pennsylvania
. The arena will become the home court of the California Vulcans
men and women's basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the host of graduation commencement. The building will also be able to host other sporting events, concerts, and trade shows. The building, covering over 142,000 sq. feet, will be the largest indoor venue between Morgantown, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The arena will be the first in the area to house a Wavecam unit, suspended above the arena floor for aerial views during television productions. It is scheduled to open in time for the Fall 2011 semester. The building will replace the Vulcans current basketball and volleyball arena, Hamer Hall
, which opened in 1965.
On August 3, 2010, a topping-off ceremony was held at the construction site to mark the placement of the final of the forty-six steel trusses on the building's frame.
Construction of the building is currently underway on the Cal U campus. Construction has forced the closure of multiple streets, lots, and intersections, including the Hamer Parking Lot, Hamer Way, the intersection of Hamer and Third Street, the Third Street entrance to the river parking lot, as well as a two-year old recreational basketball court. The Convocation Center's location had created a parking quagmire on campus, as construction of a new parking garage located behind the Manderino Library did not open until Fall of 2010, leaving a full year of school without enough parking on campus.
L. Robert Kimball & Associates are serving as the architects and engineers for the project, while General Contracting is under the direction of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company of Hershey, PA. Wayne Crouse, Inc. is serving as the HVAC Contractor, while WG Tomko, Inc. is serving as the Plumbing Contractor. In addition, California University has also contracted A-1 Electrical Service of Venetia, PA and Ryco, Inc., as Electrical and Fire Protection Contractors, respectively.
The tight space the Convocation Center lies in, between Hamer Hall, Gallagher Hall, and the railroad track has also forced construction equipment and staging areas to be moved behind the Morgan Learning Resource Center.
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
Convocation Center is a multi-purpose arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
being built in California, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The arena will become the home court of the California Vulcans
California Vulcans
California University of Pennsylvania's intercollegiate sports teams and players are called the "Vulcans" , and participate in the NCAA's Division II in all sports and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in most sports. The school colors are Red, Black, and White...
men and women's basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the host of graduation commencement. The building will also be able to host other sporting events, concerts, and trade shows. The building, covering over 142,000 sq. feet, will be the largest indoor venue between Morgantown, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The arena will be the first in the area to house a Wavecam unit, suspended above the arena floor for aerial views during television productions. It is scheduled to open in time for the Fall 2011 semester. The building will replace the Vulcans current basketball and volleyball arena, Hamer Hall
Hamer Hall (California University of Pennsylvania)
Hamer Hall is a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pennsylvania. The building is the home to California's athletic offices, varsity arena, natatorium, weight room, training room, classrooms and other facilities used by Vulcan...
, which opened in 1965.
Construction
A ceremonial ground-breaking ceremony was held on August 5, 2009. The convocation center is being constructed across from Hamer Hall in the area which previously served as the Hamer Parking Lot. The building has yet to be named, being called simply the "Convocation Center." Dr. Angelo Armenti, President of Cal U, stated in the groundbreaking ceremony that the center "will be a landmark building for our campus,”and “Besides meeting the University’s needs, it will serve as a cultural resource and contribute to the economic vitality of Southwestern Pennsylvania.”On August 3, 2010, a topping-off ceremony was held at the construction site to mark the placement of the final of the forty-six steel trusses on the building's frame.
Construction of the building is currently underway on the Cal U campus. Construction has forced the closure of multiple streets, lots, and intersections, including the Hamer Parking Lot, Hamer Way, the intersection of Hamer and Third Street, the Third Street entrance to the river parking lot, as well as a two-year old recreational basketball court. The Convocation Center's location had created a parking quagmire on campus, as construction of a new parking garage located behind the Manderino Library did not open until Fall of 2010, leaving a full year of school without enough parking on campus.
L. Robert Kimball & Associates are serving as the architects and engineers for the project, while General Contracting is under the direction of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company of Hershey, PA. Wayne Crouse, Inc. is serving as the HVAC Contractor, while WG Tomko, Inc. is serving as the Plumbing Contractor. In addition, California University has also contracted A-1 Electrical Service of Venetia, PA and Ryco, Inc., as Electrical and Fire Protection Contractors, respectively.
The tight space the Convocation Center lies in, between Hamer Hall, Gallagher Hall, and the railroad track has also forced construction equipment and staging areas to be moved behind the Morgan Learning Resource Center.