John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne

John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne

 

The John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne is Alvernia’s downtown Reading facility. A $20 million renovation and retrofitting project begun in 2021 has transformed the building into a state-of-the-art, 250,000-square-foot living and learning facility. (Address: 401 Penn St., Reading, PA 19601)

Key Features and Offerings

The John and Karen Arnold School of Nursing features the state-of-the-art, interprofessional Healthcare Simulation Center. The 55,000-square-foot space has expanded classrooms and laboratories dedicated to interprofessional training, fundamentals skills, health assessment, standardized patient simulations and a specialized resuscitation quality intervention area. Faculty and lab coordinators' offices, dedicated meeting areas and conference rooms are also incorporated throughout the space. 

The site houses the John R. Post School of Engineering, featuring labs for undergraduate learning, containing millions of dollars of hands-on, real-world equipment and a continuously expanding maker space. Faculty-taught courses feature small class sizes with athlete-friendly scheduling. Regularly scheduled lunch-and-learn presentations feature local industry members looking for summer interns and full-time employees and research faculty presenting their innovative work. 

The site's third floor features state-of-the-art labs utilized by Alvernia's Physician Associate and Occupational Therapy programs. Simulation centers, classrooms, laboratories and other spaces allow students to practice their skills in a controlled environment.

Advanced technology, alternative business models and the rise in entrepreneurship are redefining the way we do business and creating new and innovative platforms for global commerce. Alvernia University’s Header School of Business programs put students at the forefront and prepare them to excel in the workforce of the future.

  • The facility has been designed to be a superior teaching and learning space with flexible, modular classrooms integrated with the latest technology.
  • A trading floor and Bloomberg Terminal, used for a variety of learning experiences over a wide range of upper-level business courses, lends to the growth of the university’s enhanced business majors. The lab supports simulations, research and a wide variety of other business applications to provide students with an enhanced academic and real-world learning experience. 

The expanded Communication major offers leading-edge technologies through both academic coursework and collaboration with Berks Community Television (BCTV), one of the oldest and longest-serving cable access managers in the country. With a new studio and office on-site at 401 Penn, BCTV works closely with Communication Faculty, providing students with insight into the industry and offering hands-on experiences. Digital Media Marketing majors can take advantage of the Post Center's podcasting studios. 

The Total Experience Learning (TExpL)® Institute at Alvernia is committed to the mission of revolutionizing education. Offerings include coursework and professional development opportunities for educators to learn this award-winning teaching methodology. Educators can enroll in a four-course program and gain new skills including project management, contemporary business practices, and strategies for engaging community stakeholders in their classrooms. Each course is designed to support educators in creating dynamic and stimulating learning environments and fostering personal and professional growth. This innovative approach focuses on nurturing entrepreneurial development in students while providing comprehensive education that equips them for real-world success.

Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship and its student fellows work with dozens of local businesses, some of which are on-site in the facility’s business incubator, providing support and services that can elevate aspiring and existing entrepreneurs as well as provide experiential learning opportunities for students and clients. Services are delivered through an integrated network of partners, mentors, staff and student expertise. Fields include accounting, business development, communications, digital design, engineering and marketing.

An arena lounge for the university’s esports team has become the hub for competitive gaming and its spectators in the region. Offering competitive gaming in League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Valorant, Alvernia’s esports program allows Alvernia to play a national schedule against teams the university rarely otherwise competes against--including some larger Division I schools without leaving campus. 

Modern residences provide students with a living-learning experience in the heart of downtown’s thriving Penn corridor. Shuttle service to and from campus runs on a continuous loop for easy access to classes and amenities at both locations. 

Community gathering spaces, lounge areas, and a Starbucks in the lobby are welcoming and open to neighbors and visitors. 

Facility FAQs

Building Hours

The John R. Post Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Card access is provided for after-hours and weekend entry for residents.

Welcome/Information Desk

The Post Center's information desk is located in the lobby and will be staffed 24/7.

Parking

Students who reside in the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne are provided parking access to the Chiarelli Plaza Garage located at the corner of Third and Court streets. Students who reside at CollegeTowne need a parking pass. To acquire one, you will need to fill out an application. Return it to Kristy Brinckman (Kristy.Brinckman@alvernia.edu) or the front desk of CollegeTowne, along with a copy of the front side of your driver’s license.

Parking permit applications can only be processed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents may only register one vehicle to their name. In the event students need to drive a different vehicle temporarily, they must notify the front desk so it can be updated in the system.

Post Center residents can email Kristy Brinckman the necessary documents (application and copy of Driver's License), or they can turn an application into Public Safety at the Post Center.

For students, staff, faculty, and visitors — parking is available at the following garages:

   • Chiarelli Plaza Garage, 69 N. Third St., Reading
   • Reading Parking Authority Garage, 613 Franklin St., Reading

For additional Reading Parking Authority garages, go to readingparking.com. Some metered on-street parking is also available.

Shuttle Service

The Alvernia shuttle service runs on a continuous loop between Campus and Reading CollegeTowne from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Always allow at least 30 minutes to arrive at your destination and track shuttle location with our shuttle app BusWhere available for download at the Apple Store and Google Play. For after-hours requests, contact Public Safety at 610-796-8350. Please direct any transportation-related questions, concerns, complaints or praise to transportation@alvernia.edu or 610-796-8243. Learn more on Alvernia's Shuttle Services page

Security
  • 24/7 on-site security
  • Reading Police sub-station located in the building
  • Security camera system operation up and down Penn Street Corridor

As part of ongoing safety efforts, Alvernia has launched a mobile safety app call LiveSafe which allows for reporting tips to Campus Security, virtually escorting friends in real-time on a map, and placing emergency calls and accessing safety resources. The LiveSafe app is available for download at both the Apple Store and Google Play.

Recent News

Alvernia partners with Visions for financial literacy education

Financial Wellness Center established as part of expanded partnership

Alvernia University and Visions Federal Credit Union Open Financial Wellness Center with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

U.S. News & World Report names Alvernia a top-ranked national university for third consecutive year

Alvernia recognized for social mobility and nursing program

Alvernia flags at entrance

Alvernia welcomes third-largest class in university history

2024 marks the fifth consecutive year with over 475 new students

Move-In 2024 | Luminary Celebration | Medallions | Faculty | Student

Alvernia earns recognition for empowering women

Lehigh Valley Business and Central Penn Business Journal names university as 2024 Empowering Women Award recipient

Margarita Cornejo- Jimenez '21 MBA '22

Community First Fund expands partnership with Alvernia to promote microbanking in Reading

University’s O’Pake Institute to provide technical assistance for microlending  

Community First Fund and O'Pake Institute Partnership

TExPL® joins Alvernia

Institute for award-winning methodology finds new home base

Total Experience Learning Alvernia University Partnership

Engineering students craft campus landmark-inspired birdhouse for local charity event

Alvernia Trustee Kunkel supports student experiential learning at Habitat for Humanity event

Habitat for Humanity Francis Hall Birdhouse

BCTV and Alvernia announce installation of Little Free Library at 401 Penn Street

Effort aims to promote literacy and build community connections

Free library john r. post center at reading collegetowne