Swatara
Often the first impression of the campus and school for prospective students and families, the building plays a critical role in recruiting. At the Harrisburg campus, Penn State asked moto to reimagine an aging office building into a new and vibrant introduction to campus life.
The Swatara Building, constructed in 1966, is Penn State Harrisburg’s home for Student Services – including Admissions, Registrar, and Bursar’s offices. Undre construction now, it is expected to be completed summer 2024.
In order to make campus visits a welcoming and memorable experience, the building is being transformed through a new entry pavilion and full renovation of the 11,000 sf interior and infrastructure.
Featuring a sweeping masonry façade that expands into a large covered gathering area, the design gestures towards the main campus and reinforces the relationship between this new addition and the student HUB just across a new plaza designed by Studio Sustena.
Supporting this expansive canopy are four delicate pillars that cleverly conceal a complex structural system. Expertly detailed by moto and fabricated by Iron Studio.