From Alvernia University
Pictured above: Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., breaks ground on the American House at Reading CollegeTowne.
Alvernia University, Berks Community Health Center (BCHC), John Paul II Center for Special Learning, and community partners recently celebrated a wall-breaking for the renovation of the historic American House at Reading CollegeTowne, a 45,000-square-foot, four-story property located at 354 Penn St. The $23 million project will transform the building into a community-facing hub that expands access to comprehensive primary care and wraparound services, strengthens Alvernia’s experiential learning pipeline, and supports economic revitalization in downtown Reading through business incubation and retail activation.
“The American House is where the full promise of CollegeTowne and our Franciscan mission come together in service to our neighbors,” said President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “This transformation deepens Alvernia’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity while creating powerful experiential learning opportunities for our students in healthcare, social services, education, and beyond. We are grateful to our public and philanthropic partners whose investment is strengthening Reading and building the future workforce our region needs.”
Once complete, the first and second floors will serve as BCHC’s new community-based health center location, providing traditional primary care alongside comprehensive wraparound supports. Services will include mental health care, nutrition and wellness education, financial literacy education, social services assistance, and warm hand-off referrals, ensuring patients can access coordinated care in one location.
Project highlights include:
- Expanded community-based healthcare access: A new BCHC health center designed to serve more than 2,000 individuals in its first year of operation.
- Inclusive workforce development: Space planned for a John Paul II Center for Special Learning client-run retail operation, “Special Blends Cafe,” as part of an expanded partnership that supports job readiness and community engagement.
- High-impact experiential learning: At least 50 annual clinical experiences supporting student training across programs, including nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician associate, social work, and addictions and mental health treatment.
- Economic development and entrepreneurship: Additional business incubator space for the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship and complementary retail uses.
“The American House will become a living learning environment in downtown Reading, a place where what students learn in the classroom is strengthened through experience, reflection, and service,” said Alvernia Chief Academic Officer and Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D. ATC/LAT. “That’s the heart of experiential learning at Alvernia: students don’t just study systems, they learn how to improve them, alongside the people who use them and the professionals who deliver them.”
Alvernia students will play an active role in the American House model through experiential learning opportunities, working alongside BCHC clinicians, community partners, and faculty to build real-world skills while delivering mission-driven impact.
“Today’s wall-breaking marks a visible step in the transformation of this historic building into a community-centered hub that expands access to care, strengthens workforce development, and creates new experiential opportunities for Alvernia students in the heart of downtown Reading,” said Alvernia Chief Advancement, Government Affairs, and Athletics Officer Thomas Minick ’98 MBA ’10. “That is the promise of CollegeTowne, meeting community needs while creating pathways for learners to serve, lead, and thrive.”
The American House is part of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne strategy, a model for community revitalization that aligns academic expansion with economic development and community engagement that has launched in Reading and Pottsville. Alvernia launched the CollegeTowne initiative in Reading in late 2019. Since its launch, Alvernia has completed two phases of Reading CollegeTowne, investing $43 million into the City of Reading by purchasing and renovating the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, a 250,000-square-foot living and learning facility at 401 Penn Street. The American House project kicks off the third phase of investment. The $6 million Pottsville CollegeTowne project completed its first phase in 2023, with its second phase slated to finish in March 2026.
The project also advances priorities of Partners in Progress, Alvernia’s comprehensive campaign to build stronger communities by redefining higher education through access, innovation, and regional partnerships.
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