Topping-Off Ceremony Marks Milestone in Seegers Union Expansion
On Friday, Muhlenberg celebrated the placement of the final beam on the Gateway Pavilion, which will welcome visitors, including prospective students, to campus, and include spaces for alumni, students, and events.By: Meghan Kita Wednesday, October 29, 2025 09:57 AM
The final beam of the Seegers Union expansion is lifted into place along with an evergreen tree, a traditional practice for topping-off ceremonies. Photos by Marco CalderonOn Friday, October 24, Muhlenberg faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the college gathered in the Prosser Hall parking lot to watch the final steel beam being lifted and added to the Gateway Pavilion, the addition to Seegers Union. The more than 35,000-square-foot expansion will include a welcome center for campus guests (including prospective students), a new home for career services and global education, space for alumni engagement, classrooms, a large event space, and flexible use spaces for students. It will be completed in mid-2026.
“This project, the Seegers Union Expansion, was one of the central priorities of Muhlenberg’s historic Boundless campaign,” said Muhlenberg Board of Trustees Chair Lance Bruck, M.D. ’89 P’21 at the event. “Seeing the steel for this structure complete today is incredibly rewarding, as it physically embodies a vision coming to life for our entire community.”
President Harring addresses guests who gathered for the topping-off ceremony.
President Kathleen Harring spoke next: “We’re literally raising the roof on a new era for Muhlenberg College,” Harring said, thanking Gerry ’79 and Cathy Fahy, who provided a leadership gift necessary to bring this project to fruition, for their generosity. Later, she added, “[The expansion is] a place for everyone in our community. And it’s the physical embodiment of our values — a community of learners who demonstrate radical hospitality and hold a deep commitment to human flourishing.”
Student Government Association President Sabeen Safi ’26 addressed the crowd on behalf of the student body, and then Gerry spoke just before the beam was raised:
“In making our commitment to Muhlenberg, [Cathy and I] sensed the unique opportunity to be able to impact and cultivate future generations of free and critical thinkers. We saw Muhlenberg students as the seeds that could flourish and propagate to affect our world in a positive way, if afforded the opportunity and an environment conducive for learning,” he said. “And we realize that facilities matter. Considering the high level of competition among colleges and universities to attract prospective students, our hope was that our new building at the entrance to the college would create that perfect first impression. … We and so many who have contributed to this Boundless campaign look ahead to celebrate and be proud of the successes and accomplishments of our students — in other words, a truly bountiful harvest.”
From left: Cathy Fahy, Sabeen Safi ’26, Gerry Fahy ’79, President Harring
