Since the start of planning in March 2020, Amber Donato, associate director of project management, has been deeply involved in every stage of the Haupert Union Building (HUB) transformation. Serving as the primary conduit between the Moravian community and the design and construction teams, Amber has coordinated across multiple fronts, working closely with Warfel Construction, Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. (ESa), and other partners, overseeing all aspects of the project from planning through construction, to final move-in. Her coordination with project engineers was also key to the HUB achieving WELL certification—it is the first WELL-certified building in the Lehigh Valley, the second higher education institution in Pennsylvania, and just one of 13 in the state.
“In Facilities, we act as the conduit between the campus community and our design and construction teams. I have assisted in the selection of the construction manager, furniture vendor, donor recognition package, and building signage,” Amber says. “Nearly all of these components require various levels of coordination with our campus community. It’s my job to make sure what is selected supports the needs of the campus.”
Amber has watched the HUB evolve from a series of blueprints into a nearly complete student union, and it has been both a long journey and a rewarding one. “The program and design changed a number of times as we worked to make this the best possible student union for our community,” she explains.
Amber says some of the most meaningful moments throughout the transformation have come from walking departments through their new spaces in the HUB for the first time. “For so many months, all they have seen are the floor plans of their office space and the building go up as they walk by. But the first time they were able to actually walk through their spaces, to see their excitement was very rewarding.”
Looking ahead, she’s eager for students to experience the building firsthand. “The new HUB will finally reflect the excitement of all the amazing activities, programming, and services that Moravian offers to our students. The Moravian community is so vibrant and deserving of a space that reflects that vitality. It’s going to be exciting to see the students enjoying the spaces we have labored over for so long."
