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The New Kensington Center was opened in 1958 in the First Ward School Building in the heart of the city of New Kensington. In 1963, the Center moved to the former Parnassus Junior High School and began offering the first two years of Penn State's baccalaureate programs on a full-time basis in education, liberal arts, business administration, and human development.
In September 1966, classes convened in the Engineering Building, the Upper Burrell campus’ first building. Today, the Engineering Building houses one of only two fully-equipped student Intensive Care Unit (ICU) laboratories in the country. Also in 1966, men’s basketball became the campus’ first varsity sport.
In 1971, the Forum Theatre, a 420-seat thrust stage theatre, opened with the student production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." As the campus grew, so did its enrollment and the need for a gathering place for students. In 1975, the Student Learning Center opened with a cafeteria, recreational facilities, bookstore, and Academic and Career Success Center. In the late 1980s, a capital campaign provided funds for a Science and Technology Center, The opening of the building in 1990 made the campus one of the most technically advanced in the Penn State system. In 2000, a large section of the Activities Building was remodeled to form the Information and Technology Center - home to the Information Sciences and Technology program. After a ten-year building hiatus, the new Conference Center and classroom building opened in March 2001. It contains a large conference room, a kitchen, two large and six small classrooms, faculty and staff offices, and a lobby with a large courtyard.
CAMPUS LEADERSHIP
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Eugene Heide, New Kensington Center Director, 1958-68
Harry Russell, Campus Executive Officer, 1968-77
Bob Arbuckle, Campus Executive Officer, 1977-92
Roy Myers, Campus Executive Officer, 1992-95
Catherine Gannon, Campus Executive Officer, 1995-98
Carol Rush, Campus Executive Officer, 1998-2002
Larry Pollock, Chancellor, 2002-08
Kevin Snider, Chancellor, 2008-present
Dr. Eugene Heide, New Kensington Center Director, 1958-68
Dr. Harry Russell, Campus Executive Officer,1968-77
Dr. Robert Arbuckle, Campus Executive Officer, 1977-92
Dr. Roy Myers, Campus Executive Officer, 1992-95
Dr. Catherine Gannon, Campus Executive Officer, 1995-98
Dr. Carol Rush, Campus Executive Officer, 1998-2002
Dr. Larry Pollock, Chancellor, 2002-2008
Dr. Kevin Snider, 2008-present


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Penn State New Kensington was founded in 1958 as a result of a study of the local need for higher education in the Alle-Kiski Valley. From its roots in a remodeled high school building on Fourth Avenue in New Kensington, the campus has evolved into a modern educational facility on seventy-two beautifully wooded acres in Upper Burrell.
In the same year, Alcoa offered to give the University a thirty-five-acre tract of land on Route 780 in Upper Burrell Township, four miles east of the city.
The Health and Physical Education Complex opened in 1969. The complex comprises the 1,000-seat PSNK Field House (basketball, volleyball, and racquetball courts), a weight room, cardiovascular training center, nurses station, faculty offices, classrooms, and a soccer field.