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Gov. Tom Wolf on Oct. 11 announced that Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) will receive $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to renovate a building on the school’s Scranton campus.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Oct. 11 announced that Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) will receive $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to renovate a building on the school’s Scranton campus.

The building to be renovated is the W.T. Smith Manual Arts Building (MAB), once part of Scranton Technical High School. The MAB was included in the former Commonwealth Medical College’s property acquisition at the time it built the school’s Medical Sciences Building, which opened in 2011. Constructed in 1905, it was named for William Tallman Smith, superintendent of the Mount Pleasant Coal Company in Scranton. After renovation, it will be called Halpin Hall.

“Since I became Governor, I have worked hard to ensure that when state government is investing in our local communities, we are directing our resources toward projects that transform our cities, municipalities, and counties into more inviting places to work and live,” Governor Wolf said. “I am proud to announce my administration’s investment in the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine to help renovate the historic W.T. Smith Manual Arts building.”

“We are grateful to the Commonwealth, to the governor and to Sen. Blake,” said Steven J. Scheinman, MD, GCSOM president and dean. “The funds will be used to restore a gracious old building of particular historical significance to Scranton and to all of northeastern Pennsylvania. The building was originally devoted to providing education in the skills needed for the economy of 1905. It is a fitting tribute to Mr. Smith’s legacy that it will be refurbished to educate native sons and daughters in the knowledge and skills of the 21st century.”

Dr. Scheinman said the RACP award will help with expansion and renovation of Halpin Hall, adding much-needed classroom, office and innovation space. “With it, we will expand our campus and focus on our goal of significantly increasing the number of master’s-level candidates by 2024,” he said. “Of course, the award will also be used to continue the School of Medicine’s commitment to provide medical education to Pennsylvanians, encouraging them to stay in our region to practice. Our mission directly combats the physician shortage in the Commonwealth and ensures that Pennsylvania communities will be well cared for in the future.”

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.

Halpin Hall October 2018

The future home of Halpin Hall

Halpin Hall rendering outside

Halpin Hall rendering

Halpin Hall rendering inside building

Halpin Hall rendering

Halpin Hall rendering inside

Halpin Hall rendering

Halpin Hall rendering inside hall

Halpin Hall rendering

About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

 
Gov. Tom Wolf GCSOM grant October 2018
GCSOM President and Dean Steven Scheinman, MD, Gov. Tom Wolf, Sen. John Blake, Mayor Bill Courtright and GCSOM students celebrate the announcement that the school will receive $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to renovate a building on the school’s Scranton campus.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Elizabeth Zygmunt
Director, Media and Public Relations 
Office: 570-504-9687
On Call: 570-687-9703
ezygmunt@som.geisinger.edu
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