Keystone Hall, home of the Golden Bears, to Undergo Renovation

Keystone Hall, home of the Kutztown University Golden Bears, to Undergo Renovation

April 25, 2025

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Kutztown University's home for Golden Bear Athletics, Keystone Hall, will undergo a complete building renovation for the first time in its 54-year existence, beginning May 2026. The building will feature a modernized home for KU student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans and is slated to open January 2028.

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Keystone Hall, named for the university's original name of Keystone State Normal School, was built and dedicated May 1, 1971, and will undergo its first lifecycle renovation. Renovations include:

• Upgraded team locker rooms, including new square footage built between Keystone Pool and O'Pake Fieldhouse for women's soccer and women's lacrosse.
• Updated office spaces for coaches, support staff and administrators.
• Keystone Pool upgrades, including pool infrastructure, a new pool deck and bleachers, and guest/public locker rooms.
• Keystone Arena will undergo a renovation, maintaining its current layout within Keystone Hall. The arena will feature a new bleacher system, restored floor, press box and lounge overlooking the arena.
• Fully enclosed and renovated wrestling room.
• Updated lobby, ticket booth and concessions, with additional square footage for a new entry vestibule.
• Three team rooms for team video review and study halls.
• Climate controlled HVAC with air conditioning and heat.
• Accessible entrances, an elevator, modern toilet facilities, state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage.
• O'Pake Fieldhouse will undergo sprinkler system and fire alarm system upgrades May 2027 to January 2028.

The primary source of funding will be state capital funds.

Naming opportunities for Keystone Hall will be announced at a later date. Learn more about how you can support Golden Bear Athletics by contacting the KU Foundation at 610-683-4110 or together@kuf.org.

"We are incredibly excited for the renovated space," said Renee Hellert, director of athletics. "The updated facility represents the university's commitment to supporting excellence in athletics and supporting our tremendous student-athletes. The facility will provide a space that will help our programs recruit and retain high-level student-athletes and create an environment that will allow them to reach their highest potential both academically and athletically."

Keystone Hall's renovation will have a significant impact on the university's students and its guests. Guests attending events at Keystone Arena will experience an enhanced and more welcoming fan experience. The addition of climate-controlled HVAC will allow KU to host additional summers camps and clinics in a comfortable environment year-round.

The renovation comes on the heels of other building projects on campus, including the Admissions Welcome Center (2025), de Francesco Building, home to the College of Business (2023), Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research (2023), Nancy Jean Stump Seiger '54 Botanical Research Center (2023), DeLight E. Breidegam Building, Headquarters of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center (2022), Keith Haring Fitness Court (2022), Keystone Field (2019) and Rothermel Hall (2018).

During the Keystone Hall renovation, O'Pake Fieldhouse will serve as the primary practice facility for sports which utilize Keystone Arena (men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, wrestling, women's acrobatics and tumbling). Details regarding game schedules, office locations and alternate playing venues for Fall 2026 through Winter 2028 will be announced at a later date.

The Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies will take place in O'Pake Fieldhouse. Details regarding Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 ceremonies will be announced at a later date.

Keystone Hall replaced Risley Hall, which was built in 1907, and has gone on to host major concerts with names like Billy Joel, Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen taking the stage.

The headquarters of the KU athletic department, Keystone Hall is the hub of indoor athletic activity on campus. Keystone Arena, located in the center of Keystone Hall, is the home of the Golden Bear volleyball team in the fall, men's and women's basketball and wrestling teams in the winter, and women's acrobatics and tumbling in the spring. Keystone Pool, a six-lane public pool that serves as the home for Golden Bear aquatics, is located at the rear of building. Keystone Hall also houses the Golden Bears Sports Medicine department, department staff offices, designated locker rooms for intercollegiate athletic teams and the wrestling room.

"This upgrade to Keystone Hall will enhance the experience for student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans," said Matt Santos, vice president for University Relations and Athletics. "It will help our coaches continue to recruit the best student-athletes, as it will provide an indoor facility that is second to none in the State System. Given that Keystone was built in 1971, it has had to be adjusted to accommodate a tremendous growth in athletics, including women's sports and sport expansion. This new facility will allow KU to be at the forefront of Division II intercollegiate athletic facility offerings in 2028 and beyond."

The mission of Kutztown University Athletics is to promote student-athlete development through education and athletic competition; to stimulate values so participants can become active global citizens; to achieve excellence in which the University and community take pride; and to prepare students to meet lifelong intellectual, ethical, social and career challenges.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics supports a 23-sport varsity athletic program, comprised of 14 women's sports and nine men's. All but two sports (women's bowling, acrobatics and tumbling) compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Women's bowling competes as an associate member in the East Coast Conference; women's acrobatics and tumbling competes as an associate member in the Mountain East Conference.

For more information about Golden Bears athletics, visit their website.