Rededicating Patterson Hall

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- College officials focused attention on the new and improved Patterson Hall with a rededication ceremony on Friday afternoon.   Members of the Westminster Board of Trustees joined President Rick Dorman, alumni, staff, faculty and students in the lobby of Orr Auditorium. 

"The building we rededicate today is a total re-transformation of the original structure," Dorman said. "Even when it was brand new in the 1960s, the building did not reflect the state of the art environment that it does today."

For decades the hall was called the Arts and Science Building.  In 1989, the structure was renamed in honor of Westminster's first college president, James Patterson. 

The recently completed $5 million make-over offers new life to a structure originally opened in 1966.  When it opened, Patterson cost $950,000.  Today it serves as a new humanities and social sciences building.  Patterson includes technologically-enhanced classrooms, modern offices and meeting rooms for three academic departments, the Drinko Center for Experiential Learning, Celebrity Series and an enclosed art exhibit gallery.  While Patterson continues to house the Art Department's gallery, the studios and workspace for art studies was relocated to new facilities in the basement of Russell Hall.

"I do teach in the building," Academic Dean Jess Man said.  "The new design and facilities are changing the way we conduct the academic enterprise at the College."