Nursing school? Workforce training? Ideas pitched for future use of PSNK property

Suggestions for what the Penn State New Kensington property will become post-spring 2027 range from a nursing school, to a manufacturing training center or a mixed-use site.

But regardless of what eventually pans out, those who attended a invitation-only meeting with Penn State leadership at the PSNK campus this week say the main goal is a use that promotes workforce development and training once the campus closes at the end of the 2026-27 academic year.

“We had a nice meeting. They’re trying to decide what they’re going to do with the facility,” said Upper Burrell Supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III, who noted township officials were invited to the meeting Wednesday morning. Although named New Kensington, the physical location of the campus is in Upper Burrell off Seventh Street Road.

“Workforce development and training is what they thought would be the best use for the property,” Walker said.

Possibilities

New Kensington Mayor Thomas Guzzo said the meeting “was a good initial step toward determining the future of the campus.

“Participants offered some great ideas, and they mostly centered on workforce development,” Guzzo said. “That would certainly benefit our entire area.

“We discussed the possibility of a collaborative effort for multiple entities that would provide varying types of workforce development and training that would be tailored to specifically meet the needs of the prevalent industries in the area. These might include health care jobs and manufacturing jobs.”

According to Walker, one suggestion included a nursing school.

Allegheny Health Network currently operates the Citizens School of Nursing at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer; and the system reported record-enrollment of 355 students this fall at its campuses in Frazer and West Penn School of Nursing in Bloomfield.

Penn State New Kensington had a total of 432 students enrolled last spring.

AHN’s media team didn’t return requests for comment. A nursing school could be a “natural fit” at the property, Walker said.

“It’s already set up for a school,” he said. “Instead of turning it into a manufacturing facility, they’ve already got the classrooms set up, it’s kind of a natural fit — school to school.”

Walker also floated the idea of a high-technology site at campus given the advent of the new TECfusions data center opening at former Alcoa property nearby.

State Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, said she likes the idea of having the campus remain a sort of “educational hub” for training and development of in-demand fields like electricians, plumbers, nurses and manufacturing workers.

She also suggested making the property mixed-use and include local businesses, which could generate tax revenue for Upper Burrell.

Continued discussion

The Penn State representatives didn’t seem to have a preconceived notion as to what they think the future of the property holds, Cooper said.

“They sincerely were looking for the right fit for our community,” she said. “I feel there will be an open dialogue moving forward. This was the first of many meetings.”

Penn State officials at the meeting included Renata Engel, interim vice president for Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor; Mike Stefan, vice president for government and community relations; Rob Fenza, board of trustees member; and Megan Nagel, regional chancellor for Penn State Fayette, Greater Allegheny and New Kensington.

Penn State’s media team didn’t return a request for comment regarding the meeting.

“The Penn State representatives were open to all of the recommendations that were discussed,” Guzzo said. “We were assured that these discussions with the representatives from Penn State will continue on a regular basis so that we all can, hopefully, work together towards a solution that benefits the entire area.”

Cooper said it’s her understanding those Penn State representatives will deliver the final recommendation to the board of trustees, and the board will have the ultimate say on how the campuses are repurposed.

“They brought the key decision makers with them,” Cooper said. “You want to be dealing with the people making the decision of 73 acres of property in our community.”

Penn State representatives have visited the campuses that are closing in two years — which include Fayette, DuBois, Mont Alto, Wilkes-Barre, Shenango and York — and have engaged in similar meetings in those areas, Cooper said.

Said Cooper: “I felt good they sent the right people to our meeting, who are very much engaged and invested in what happens to the campuses.”