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Ground Broken For IUP Convention Center

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Nov 13, 2008 6:37 pm US/Eastern

Ground Broken For IUP Convention Center

Reporting
Trina Orlando
INDIANA (KDKA) ― Indiana University of Pennsylvania broke ground today on a major development project that's expected to benefit the entire region.

The Kovalchick Convention Center and Athletic Complex will be a state of the art center built on Wayne Avenue near IUP.  It will include conference facilities, a 5,000-seat arena and a new hotel.

"This is a very historic occasion," said Dr. Tony Atwater, president of IUP. "It will spur a renaissance for the entire Indiana Region. I'm so proud of KCAC being launched and what it will mean for the citizens of western Pennsylvania."

The center is named for the Kovalchick Family. Indiana businessman Joe Kovalchick donated $2 million as well as family land to help make the project happen.

"It's very pleasurable to see it and I'm very honored," said Joe Kovalchick. "I'm glad to be a part of it and glad I can memorialize my family's name on the building. Everything looks good to me."

Also at today's ground breaking was YouTube creator and IUP alumnus Chad Hurley. Hurley announced he would be donating $1 million to name the 5,000-seat arena at the complex after IUP Track and Field Coach Ed Fry. Fry recruited Hurley out of high school and coached him at IUP.

"I'm not only happy for IUP and the university, but also for the community," said Hurley. "I'm also happy I could honor Ed Fry like this. He's given over 40 years of his life to the university. I think it's only fitting in his final year to name the arena after him."

Fry expressed his happiness that Hurley went on to find success with YouTube and is now using that success to give back to his alma mater.

"I'm very proud," said Fry. "I was always proud of him. He tried as hard as he could when he was here."

Fry recalled a day when Hurley told him he was going to be successful someday.

"Before he left he said, 'You'll see, I'm gonna do something.' And I guess he did," said Hurley.

The Kovalchick Center is expected to be complete in 2011. It's projected to bring more than $12 million dollars a year to the local economy.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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