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The Mercyhurst campus is situated on a scenic 75-acre hillside overlooking Lake Erie and enjoys the advantage of a suburban, pastoral setting only minutes from downtown Erie. The heart of campus is Old Main, a majestic Tudor-style structure constructed in 1926. It includes classrooms as well as the Office of the President, Admissions, Financial Aid and other major administrative offices. Old Main connects with Egan and Preston halls, which include faculty and staff offices, and overlooks “The Mary Garden.” Other prominent structures among the more than 50 buildings comprising the Mercyhurst complex include:
Center for Academic Engagement
Completed in 2012, the Center for Academic Engagement (CAE) is a 31,000-square foot, eco-friendly building housing the Intelligence Studies, Hospitality and Applied Politics programs. The building is designed around the idea that education should be hands-on, collaborative and high-tech. The new building includes an enclosed walkway that extends from the fourth floor of the CAE to the fourth floor of the library, creating a pathway for students from the CAE to Old Main.
Audrey Hirt Academic Center
The 45,000-square-foot Audrey Hirt Academic Center was built in 2002 with Collegiate Gothic architecture to complement the majestic Tudor style of Old Main. Distinguished by a splendid dome visible from the four corners of the campus, the Hirt Center contains an atrium, technology-rich classrooms, faculty offices and Walker Recital Hall, a performance venue seating 250. The Hirt Center also holds facilities for graphic arts, communication, including a digital communications lab; education; public health; the honors program; the Merciad student newspaper and TV studio.
Zurn Hall of Science and Fine Arts
The Zurn Hall of Science and Fine Arts contains classrooms and modern, well equipped science laboratories for archaeology, biology, chemistry, forensics, geology, physics and earth-space studies and spacious art studios for drawing, painting, ceramics and photography. Zurn Hall is also home to the Baltus Observatory, named after Sister M. Matthew Baltus, R.S.M. It consists of a rotary dome that houses a 14-inch Celestron reflector telescope.
Mercy Motherhouse
The Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse contains state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratory spaces specifically designed for students in the Nursing programs. Remodeled in 2022, the Motherhouse also houses the simulation center, offering students a unique experience to engage with high-fidelity simulations in a hospital room setting.
Hammermill Library
The Hammermill Library is a fully automated facility; the virtual library is accessible 24/7 providing access to most of the library collections. The library building provides a safe environment for research and study and is equipped with computers and wireless access. Among the library’s holdings are book volumes, eBooks and electronic journal databases to support the scholarly needs of students.
The library maintains late-night hours, and weekend hours along with a 24/7 study lounge. It is also home to the Thomas J. and Michele Ridge Collection (archives), the Sister Joan Chittister Archives and the Veterans Resource Center. The Tutoring Office, Writing Center, Testing Center, and Language Laboratory are located in the library. The Department of Information Technology along with an IT help desk, are also housed within.
Laboratories
Mercyhurst University takes pride in maintaining modern, high-tech science laboratories, a sampling of which includes the Donald and Judith Alstadt Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Research, Hirtzel Human Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, Archaeological Processing Laboratory, Ecology Laboratory, Graphic and GIS Laboratory and Stratigraphy and Sedimentation Laboratory.
Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center
The Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a spectacularly appointed facility built in 1996 on the south side of campus. The center seats 824 and is the only venue between Erie and Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Cleveland capable of handling the technical requirements of the most elaborate productions, including ballet and opera. Celebrated for its acoustics, the PAC was designed as a showcase for the performing arts and hosts cultural events for both the internal and external communities. Moreover, it serves as a venue for students and faculty of the university to perform in a professional setting. The neighboring D’Angelo Music Building is a three-level facility housing an entire floor of practice rooms, five classrooms, faculty studios and an all-purpose rehearsal room. The dance department also enjoys a complex called danceSpace with two expansive studios including the Tauna Hunter Studio, faculty and staff offices, lecture room, dressing rooms, lobby and student lounge.
Taylor Little Theatre
The first performing arts space on campus, Taylor Little Theatre was constructed in 1951 as a part of a library expansion project. In recent years, the venue has undergone cosmetic changes, adding a state-of-the-art projection system and a new sound system. With a seating capacity of 251, this intimate space is home to the Mercyhurst Theatre Program.
Walker Recital Hall
This performance hall is found inside the Audrey Hirt Academic Center and seats 250. It is the chief venue for the annual faculty recital series, guest lectures and panel discussions.
Mercyhurst Bookstore
A 7,500-square-foot bookstore and coffee bar affords the college community a large selection of trade books, periodicals, newspapers, textbooks and a wide assortment of college merchandise. The coffee bar features Starbucks coffee, pastries and baked goods, juices and deli sandwiches.
Sister Carolyn Herrmann Student Union
The Sister Carolyn Herrmann Student Union is a three-story building featuring space for student engagement and events. It houses Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) chambers and offices, the Campus Involvement Center, Campus Ministry, Multicultural Student Services, Commuter Student Lounge, and the Laker Inn, a food court seating 250 and featuring a wide variety of convenient dining options. The union is also home to the Multicultural and Student Activities Councils.
Grotto Commons
A three million dollar renovation in summer 2016 unveiled an inviting, modern atmosphere with easily accessible food stations, more eclectic menu items and healthy food choices, flex-style seating, enhanced technology, and group gathering sites – all in a timeless environment spun of neutrals and pops of color to make it fresh and fun. From entree-based small plates to deli sandwiches to an abundant salad bar, the dining hall also features an allergen-free station devoted to preparing foods, such as gluten-free products, for students with allergies.
Student Housing
Mercyhurst University is well known for its variety of housing options, including residence halls, apartments and townhouses, with a capacity for more than 2,000 students. As freshmen, students have three living options: Baldwin Hall, an all-female residence hall, McAuley Hall, an all-male residence hall, and the co-ed Frances Warde Hall. The sophomore area is comprised a sophomore residence hall, Ryan Hall, opened in the fall of 2018 and nine apartment buildings – seven Briggs apartment buildings as well as East and West Duval apartments. Housing for upperclassmen includes Briggs and Lewis apartments, Wayne Street apartments, and three sets of townhouses (Warde, Lewis, and 41st Street).
Athletic and Recreational Facilities
The university’s athletic facilities include the Mercyhurst Athletic Center (MAC), the Mercyhurst Ice Center (MIC), the Student Fitness and Recreation Center, Tulio Field, and several additional playing fields for soccer, baseball and softball. The Mercyhurst Athletic Center houses a gymnasium complex with courts for basketball, volleyball and wrestling; crew tanks; and an athletic training facility.
The Rec Center affords each student the opportunity to enhance physical performance through a spacious free-weight room with newly added hammer strength equipment and up-to-date cardiovascular machines as well as special rooms for aerobics, spinning and martial arts. The Mercyhurst Ice Center includes an ice rink, locker rooms, and seating for 1200. The ice center also is home to the Jerry McCormick Strength and Conditioning Center, a varsity athletes-only weightlifting and conditioning facility.
Computer Facilities
Mercyhurst University is a completely networked campus, including student residence halls and apartments. The Mercyhurst campus network provides each student access to the Internet, a personal e-mail account, an individual folder for network storage, online courses in Blackboard online registration, grades and the Hammermill Library collections.
Wireless access is available throughout campus. Classrooms in all academic buildings are outfitted with Internet access and smart podiums including control panels for computers, DVD, projection and sound. Computer laboratories available to all students are located in Old Main, the Hammermill Library, and in the Hirt Academic Center. Lab operating systems include UNIX, Windows and Mac Operating Systems.
Mercyhurst’s computer systems are regularly updated and expanded. The university also maintains computer laboratories in many disciplines, including business, education, art, interior design, fashion merchandising, psychology, hospitality management, archaeology/anthropology, math and physical sciences, the social sciences, and the intelligence studies program.
