Spanier attends Nesbitt dedication

On Thursday, March 27, 2008 the first ever eco-friendly building in the Penn State satellite system was officially declared open during a dedication ceremony at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Speaking in front of over 200 guests, University President Graham B. Spanier said, "This is a magnificent day for faculty, staff, and students here at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. From now on, our plan is to build other facilities that are sensitive to our environment." The Penn State President went on to say that the fundraising effort which was set forth by the campus community played a very important role in the construction of the Abram Nesbitt, III Academic Commons. "In the case of this building, it got some favorable treatment because we were able to pay for most of it with private funds," said Dr. Spanier.

At a cost of $8 million dollars, the facility is the newest addition to the campus and was built to meet the criteria from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. According to the University, no other Penn State building in the region has received such certification. "We're striving to be as green as possible and construct buildings that are not only efficient but environmentally friendly," said Dr. Charles Davis, chancellor of the Wilkes-Barre campus.

With over 21,000 square feet of space, the Abram Nesbitt, III Academic Commons houses the Nesbitt Library, the Barry Auditorium, the Friedman Art Gallery, the Reese Cyber Café, and four technologically smart classrooms. The new building will also serve as a venue for many cultural and educational activities.