Alvernia Begins $23 Million American House Renovation at Reading CollegeTowne

Alvernia University and its partners have officially started the $23 million renovation of the historic American House in downtown Reading. This 45,000-square-foot facility will serve as a major community hub, housing a new Berks Community Health Center on the first two floors to provide primary care and mental health services to over 2,000 people. The project also features “Special Blends Cafe,” a retail spot run by the John Paul II Center for Special Learning to help students with special needs gain job readiness skills. Additionally, the building will provide at least 50 annual clinical training positions for Alvernia students in fields like nursing and social work. This expansion marks the third phase of the CollegeTowne initiative, further turning Penn Street into a destination for healthcare, education and local entrepreneurship.