Moravian University – Haupert Union Building (HUB)

Framework for Design Excellence Narrative

The Haupert Union Building (HUB) demonstrates how preservation, sustainability, wellness and adaptability can work together to create a student-centered environment built for the future. The 82,600-square-foot project combines renovation of the original 1962 student union with a new three-story addition, transforming a longstanding campus gathering place while preserving its history and extending its useful life.


Well-Being

Human health and well-being were the central drivers of the HUB’s design. The project creates a range of environments that support physical, mental, emotional, and social wellness, recognizing that students need spaces to connect, recharge, seek support and participate in campus life.

 

The program includes a dedicated Wellness Center with therapy suites, a wellness suite, a multidenominational prayer space with an ablution room, student lounges, dining areas and outdoor terraces. These spaces provide opportunities for both social connection and individual retreat.

 

Abundant natural daylight and views connect occupants to the outdoors, while indoor environmental quality strategies address air quality, lighting, acoustics and thermal comfort. Dining environments encourage healthy eating and social interaction, while outdoor terraces provide places to gather and connect with nature. The first-floor entry sequence, second-floor wellness and terrace spaces and third-floor gathering and event spaces create a variety of experiences throughout the building.

 

The university is pursuing WELL Building Certification because the building’s primary mission is to promote human health and well-being. The HUB’s wellness-centered approach makes health and wellness an integral part of the student experience rather than a collection of individual program elements.


Integration

The HUB integrates the history of Moravian University with the needs of its contemporary student community. The design team made the decision to preserve the original 1962 structure, allowing its history and material character to become the foundation for the transformation. The new three-story addition derives its geometry from the existing building’s gables, while a covered breezeway creates a sheltered connection between the building and campus.

 

Sustainability is embedded in this approach. Reusing and expanding the existing building reduces the environmental impact associated with complete replacement and preserves portions of the original structure. New HVAC systems, energy-efficient lighting, and building controls improve operational efficiency, while improved insulation, glazing, and weather protection reduce heating and cooling loads.

 

Material choices reinforce the building’s connection to place. Stone used on the original HUB was incorporated into the new addition, with additional stone sourced from a local quarry. Architecturally exposed structural steel references Bethlehem’s legacy of steel production, while extensive curtain wall glazing brings natural daylight into the building and creates a visual connection between interior and exterior. The result is an integrated architectural response in which preservation, material selection, environmental performance, and student experience inform one another.


Change

The HUB was designed to remain responsive as student needs and the university evolve. Flexible, multipurpose meeting and event spaces can support changing programs and patterns of use, extending the building’s usefulness over time. The three-story addition creates a variety of spaces for dining, informal gathering, wellness, events, meetings, and student activities, allowing the building to support different modes of engagement throughout the day.

 

Resilience is also embedded in the building’s social infrastructure. The consolidation of health, counseling, career, and student support services within a centrally located facility strengthens access to essential resources and gives the university a shared platform for responding to changing student needs and future challenges.

 

The project also strengthens social resilience by creating spaces that foster belonging and community. From informal lounges and outdoor terraces to larger event and gathering spaces, the HUB provides multiple opportunities for students to connect with one another and with the broader university community.


Together, these strategies position the HUB as a long-term campus resource, one that preserves an important piece of Moravian’s history while responding to the environmental, social and wellness needs of its future. By integrating sustainable renovation practices, human-centered design and adaptable spaces, the project creates a student center designed to support both individual well-being and the resilience of the university community.

LEED/Green Certifications

Pursuing WELL Certification

Price/sq. ft. if provided

49