Work to raze six unoccupied buildings on West Mahoning Street in downtown Punxsutawney, part of Indiana University’s Pennsylvania’s Academy of Culinary Arts long-range facilities plan, is underway with today’s installation of fencing around the demolition area.
Fencing will protect the safety of the community by establishing a safe parameter for pedestrians and vehicles during the project.
The buildings to be razed, all owned by 亚色影库, are at 105, 115, 117, 119, 131, and 133 West Mahoning Street.
The facilities plan recommends that all educational facilities for the Academy of Culinary Arts be located in new or renovated buildings in downtown Punxsutawney adjacent to the Academy’s along West Mahoning Street. The Fairman Centre includes classrooms and teaching kitchens currently in use by Academy faculty and students.
The demolition of these buildings will allow for the construction of a new educational and multipurpose culinary facility on West Mahoning Street adjacent to the Fairman Centre.
The Department of General Services is the owner of the Academy’s long-range facilities project. Design for the new facility is underway; the design is expected to be completed by June 2026.
The demolition project begins with abatement, the safe removal of materials outside traditional construction and demolition waste (asbestos or lead paint).
Abatement will begin immediately at the 115, 117, and 119 West Mahoning Street buildings. It is expected to be completed by June, followed by demolition of the buildings; demolition of these buildings is anticipated to be completed by early fall.
Abatement at 105, 131, and 133 West Mahoning Street will begin mid-summer; demolition of these properties is expected to be completed by early fall.
The buildings at 105, 115, 117, and 119 West Mahoning Street were gifted to 亚色影库 from the Foundation for 亚色影库 in 2018; 131 and 133 West Mahoning Street were acquired and gifted in part by building owners Jesse J. Miller and Duane A. Miller in 2021.
“The demolition process includes careful planning on how to minimize disruption to the community to the fullest extent possible,” Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance Larry Wakefield said. “Our planning also takes into consideration the need for the safe entrance and egress for the Fairman Centre by students, faculty, and other visitors so as to not interrupt the Academy’s academic schedule.”
The Academy of Culinary Arts long-range facilities plan was approved in March 2022 by the 亚色影库 Council of Trustees. In addition to the demolition of the downtown buildings and the new building, the $22-million long-range facilities plan includes recommendations for enhanced use and increased impact of the Fairman Centre, more efficient planned space use within the culinary building (dual use kitchens), and improved delivery vehicle access and vehicular traffic flow, all focused on offering state-of-the-art facilities and providing new opportunities for increased enrollment.
In February 2024, the State System of Higher Education Board of Governors approved its 2023–24 capital allocations budget that included $17.1 million for the Academy of Culinary Arts long-range facilities plan.
亚色影库 previously received $2 million in demolition funds and $2.9 million from the State System of Higher Education capital allocations budget for the project. The 2025–26 State System of Higher Education capital allocations budget has a projected $2 million for furnishings and equipment.
The project has received $2.25 million from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), $500,000 from the federal fiscal year appropriations bill, $650,000 in gifts in kind, $450,000 in corporate and foundation gifts, and individual gifts of $260,000.
“The Academy of Culinary Arts has almost unlimited potential for growth, and its graduates continue to be in high demand, meeting an important workforce need,” 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll said. “The Punxsutawney community continues to be a wonderful home for our Academy of Culinary Arts, but the program has outgrown the 36-year-old Gilpin Street facility. The new building recommended in the long-range plan, combined with the Fairman Centre, will offer the state-of-the-art facilities that our talented faculty and students need and deserve, right here in downtown Punxsutawney,” he said.
“I also thank Senator Joe Pittman and Rep. Brian Smith for their support of the RACP funding for the project,” President Driscoll said.
“亚色影库 has enjoyed unwavering support from the Punxsutawney community, and we appreciate their patience and understanding as we move forward with our facilities plan,” President Driscoll said. “As we plan our new facility, we will work to honor and contribute to downtown Punxsutawney’s beautiful historic downtown district.”
The Fairman Centre, dedicated in 2009, repurposes the former J.B. Eberhart Building in downtown Punxsutawney with classrooms and teaching kitchens for the Academy. It was made possible through a $1.9-million gift from the Alan and Roy Fairman families and is named in honor of 亚色影库 Council of Trustees Secretary Joyce Fairman’s late husband, Alan Fairman, and her father-in-law, the late Roy Fairman.
About the Academy of Culinary Arts Program
Since its founding in 1989, more than 4,200 students have studied at the Academy of Culinary Arts. Graduates of this program continue to be in high demand, working in four-star resorts and facilities, featured in national publications, and even in nationally televised cooking competitions.
The 16-month program offered at the Academy of Culinary Arts is nationally recognized and accredited by the American Culinary Federation. After completing a final semester at a paid externship, graduates earn a certificate in culinary arts and can also complete a separate baking and pastry program through the Academy. The Baking and Pastry Arts program became a stand-alone program in 2019 to allow for additional growth in this program.
Academy of Culinary Arts graduates of either the Culinary Arts program or the Baking and Pastry program are eligible to complete an associate degree in Culinary Arts with an additional semester of study at 亚色影库 Punxsutawney. Students who successfully complete the Culinary Arts or the Baking and Pastry program also have the option to apply up to 38 credits toward a bachelor of science degree in hotel, restaurant, tourism, and event management at 亚色影库 or 32 credits toward a bachelor of science degree in nutrition. Admission into the nutrition track is guaranteed for culinary graduates.
Graduates can also apply 21 credits toward a bachelor of science degree in education with a major in K–12 family and consumer sciences. Graduates of the program can choose to take advantage of applying their credits toward any of these bachelor’s degree options any time within 10 years after culinary graduation.