Old Main sits at the heart of Geneva’s campus, surrounded on all sides by the buildings that house subject matter from thermodynamics and microbiology to child psychology and macroeconomics. At the center of campus, students from all majors pass through the doors and trek up and down the stairs to engage the curriculum at the core of Geneva’s ministry of education, including biblical studies, humanities, and political science. 

Old Main was constructed in 1881, the first building to be commissioned by the College after its move to Beaver Falls, PA, from Northwood, OH. It was built on the land donated to Geneva by the Harmony Society, using locally quarried stones in its structure. The building has stood the test of time — including weathering the infamous tornado in 1914 that took its gold-colored shingles and gave us the Golden Tornado mascot. Its stone exterior bore the markings of a steel town for decades until a sand blasting in the 1980s revealed a sandy tan beneath the charcoal gray coating. 

For nearly 145 years, Old Main has harbored Geneva history and been the site of fresh memories for each generation of students. In a building that once comprised the entire College, it continues to bustle with the post-humanities class stampede, the fear and trembling in the senior-level, core political science classroom, and the clatter of one hundred chapel seats closing at the end of lecture. Students grapple with love, death, and resurrection in Humanities 103, encounter the Old and New testaments in the introductory Bible courses, and perform musical numbers in John White Chapel. 

In 2021, Geneva adopted a 10-year vision that led to the Advancing Faith & Learning for the 21st Century campaign. At the center of every initiative was the commitment to enhance student experience and education as well as our institution’s ability to enroll future generations of Geneva students. 

Initially, a conversation concerning Old Main was raised because of a desire to utilize the funds previously set aside and designated for the performing arts at Geneva. A look at John White Chapel in Old Main revealed the need for upgrades. Upon closer look at our iconic building, a number of other concerns arose, notably its limited accessibility, lack of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and antiquated safety features. 

The question emerged: Is it really worth renovating this old building? 

The answer was an emphatic yes. As the board discerned the next course of action, a study from Sterling College provided guidance. In a survey of 30 colleges facing the same dilemma — to dismantle or to renovate their Old Main building — it was found that the 15 schools who chose to raze their building regretted it, feeling they lost an important symbol for alumni. The 15 schools who chose to renovate were grateful they did. The opportunity to preserve our iconic Old Main as a functionable hub for campus life, faithful academics, and the performing arts is an intentional decision as we seek to be good stewards of our campus and serve our alumni with care. 

The Advancing Faith & Learning campaign designated the restoration of Old Main as one of its three goals, alongside increased endowment and building a welcome center. 

Since then, the faithful giving of alumni, staff, faculty, and friends of the College have not only met but surpassed our goals for endowment and the construction of the Dwight E. Wagner Welcome Center. As we enter the final phase of the capital campaign, we invite everyone to participate in the revitalization of Old Main as we raise the final $1.6 million. 

The renovations will include a zero-clearance entrance that makes accessibility the standard, not a special accommodation. The installation of an elevator enables all students, community members, and guests to access every level of the building. Each floor will be equipped with an accessible restroom, as well as HVAC and fire safety upgrades. The John White Chapel will receive a much-needed remodel to become a state-of-the-art performance venue and lecture hall (learn more about naming a seat!), designed by the same architecture firm that renovated Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center. 

Additionally, this remodel will allow Geneva to reclaim classroom space as enrollment, financial aid, and alumni offices move to the new Wagner Welcome Center and administrators currently in Old Main move to their vacated office space. Students will continue to learn in the halls of Old Main, and the newly established Center for Faith & Life will be housed in the building. 

While exceedingly practical, the renovations to Old Main are more than structural in their hospitality. They are an investment in the future generations of Geneva students who briefly pass through our campus on their way to impressive job positions, humbling leadership opportunities, meaningful family experiences, and the challenging yet rewarding ups and downs of life. As part of Geneva’s ministry of education, lives are changed through classroom revelations, lifelong friendships, and an investment in faith in Christ. The experiences at Geneva stay with alumni for a lifetime, and we’re pleased to expand and revitalize the spaces in which these moments happen, including the halls of Old Main. 

We invite you to participate in the Advancing Faith & Learning campaign from October 24 through December 31, 2025, as we meet our challenge goal in restoring Old Main as a hub for campus life. For more information, visit genevacollegefoundation.org/forthis. 

By Erika Kauffman '20