Aug 12, 2021 _ news

Historic House in the News at Penn State Behrend

Dating from 1838, Federal House at Penn State Behrend is the oldest brick structure in Harborcreek Township, PA. In its rich history, it has acted as a family home, a stagecoach stop, and even a safehouse along the Underground Railroad.

But it’s been in the news lately, because it is about halfway through a renovation that will preserve and expand the structure to make a new home for Penn State Behrend’s Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation (CORE) – a program that focuses on fostering positive youth development in Erie County, PA.

“There is a heritage perspective of this, but there is also an impact of this in terms of how we give back to the community by improving and evaluating programs that benefit our youth,” says Penn State Behrend’s Senior Director of Administration and Student Affairs, Ken Miller.

“By preserving and elevating the architectural language of the historic Federal House,” says GBBN Associate Principal, Matt Plecity, “the design will provide a welcoming home for the youth of Erie. It will communicate to CORE’s youth that they are safe and valued here – this is a place that is for them.”

For more on the project, check out WJET’s coverage or check out GBBN’s Federal House Case Study.

Watch the progress on the Federal House in real-time or as a time-lapse here.