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Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd., an award-winning design firm of institutional and residential projects, is pleased to announce the completion of a Christian Activities Building at Grove City College in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Rathburn Hall will provide space for campus ministry groups to receive leadership training, resource support and serve as a centralized campus location for meetings, events, conferences and retreats.

“The College has over twenty active student ministry groups and fast growing chapel programs,” said Daniel G. Russoniello, AIA, LEED AP, principal at Archer & Buchanan. “Rathburn Hall provides a permanent on-campus home for these groups, as well as expanded seminar and social space, and offices for the Dean of the Chapel and Director of Campus Ministries.”

Grove City College is a 150-acre campus originally planned in 1876 on a classic college quad and green model. As the College grew in the early 20th century, that original model guided the Olmstead Brothers as they expanded the campus around new academic quadrangles and lawns. This classic master plan continues to guide campus growth today. The 16,500 SF Tudor-style Rathburn Hall, dedicated on September 14th is designed to be an ensemble structure with historic Harbison Chapel, with which it shares a new lawn. The new building is constructed of Briar Hill Sandstone, taken from the same quarry as the Chapel, Administration Building and Library.

“The campus is predominantly brick and limestone,” noted Russoniello. “The administration signified the importance of this building by selecting the sandstone and limestone palette.”

Rathburn Hall contains the Morledge Great Room, a fellowship room that hosts lectures and banquets; the Grace Room, a board room; seminar and meeting rooms; a prayer room; and a work room for collaborative projects. Named for Board of Trustees Chair David Rathburn ’79, the $6.8 million project was a campaign priority of Grove City Matters: A Campaign to Advance Grove City College, the largest capital campaign in the College’s history.

To save time, monitor costs and integrate design and construction, Archer & Buchanan joined forces with Wallace Builders of Pulaski, PA to form a design-build team. Other design team members include The Kachele Group - structural engineers; Allen & Shariff - MEP engineers; and Gannet Fleming - civil engineers. Archer & Buchanan, with Marjorie Stein Interiors of Pittsburgh, provided interior design services.

Founded in 1876, Grove City College is located 60 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA. With an enrollment of 2,500 students, Grove City is a private Christian college teaching the liberal arts, sciences and engineering.