Community invited to open house to celebrate new location of PFW's Environmental Resource Center

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Over the summer, Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Environmental Resources Center finished up moving from a room in the Science Building to its new home, the building that formerly housed Printing Services and Shipping and Receiving operations.

This new space, which is right along the St. Joseph River on the west edge of the main campus, consists of more than 5,000 square feet of usable space.

To celebrate the center’s new home, the staff invites everyone to attend an open-house-style Housewarming Party on Sunday, October 13, from 2 to 5 p.m.

“To be so close to the river, tucked in a natural setting, like we are now, is ideal for an organization focused on sustaining and improving the environment. We are grateful to the administration for recognizing our potential and entrusting us with this amazing opportunity,” says Bruce Kingsbury, Ph.D., director of the center and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

“We are thrilled to open our doors to the public for the first time. We aren’t completely settled yet, but we are up and running and very excited about the potential and opportunities our unique new location provides. We are ready to share our progress with the community and invite new and expanded collaborations with community partners,” he added.

The celebration will include indoor and outdoor tours of the recently repurposed facility, highlights of ongoing projects and discussion of potential future projects, a guided walk along the Native Trees of Indiana River Walk, and a “meet and greet” with birds of prey from Soarin’ Hawk raptor rehab. There will also be giveaways, as well as refreshments served throughout.

The Housewarming Party is free and appropriate for all ages. Free parking is available only a short walk from the facility, and accessible parking is available at the building’s entrance. It is also conveniently located along the Rivergreenway, next to the St. Joseph River, for anyone interested in biking or walking to the center via the scenic route. If you enter campus from North Anthony Boulevard, follow the road as it curves in front of Kettler Hall, and then turn right onto West Campus Drive, where you will see the loading dock doors of the center’s new facility straight ahead at the north end of the riverside parking lot.

“This is such an exciting time for the university and the community. Issues of sustainability and ‘quality of place’ are gaining broader support with nearly all stakeholders on campus and in the community,” adds Kingsbury.

Purdue Fort Wayne recently hired a sustainability coordinator, Samantha Theisen, to expand the center’s efforts and work on campus and community sustainability issues. “It’s been a whirlwind of a summer,” says Theisen. “So much has changed in just these past few months, which makes us all so hopeful for our impact in the future. I’m excited to build relationships and collaborate on issues I’m passionate about, while ultimately enhancing the campus as a whole.”

Community groups, especially those invested in environmental issues, now have a new community location available for meetings, presentations, conferences, and more.

“This space is such a great fit,” notes Kingsbury. “We see so many possibilities, and we hope our growth becomes a part of Fort Wayne’s expanding appreciation of our much-needed attention to the health and well-being of our planet and its passengers.”

For more information, photos, interviews, and tours contact Samantha Theisen, sustainability coordinator, at 260-481-5758 or at [email protected].

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