Stack Credited with Saving Funds for Holy Family Library Rehab

By Jennifer Gregory

Sen. Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia) today discussed the $1.3 million grant given to Holy Family University at the school's library on its Northeast Philadelphia Campus.

Originating from funds that Gov. Tom Corbett planned to cut, the capital budget grant assisted the university in replacing the windows of the library this past summer, the first step in a series of repairs to the library, constructed in 1967.

Matthew Reese, a junior at the university and representative of the student body, spoke during the presentation.

“The library is the foundation of any university,” he said. “To know that our state Senator is fighting for us… is a great deal.”

Stack, a graduate of LaSalle University, said he is a “believer in smaller colleges.”

“Greatness in schools like Holy Family is often ignored instead of encouraged,” he said.

The library’s original windows were single glass panes with aluminum frames – very inefficient by today’s standards, said Pete Tantala a representative of Tantala Associcates, LLC of Philadelphia, who supervised the renovations.

Comprehensive studies of the building were conducted in order to develop a renovation plan. The windows were deemed the top-most priority and were replaced by Eureka Metal and Glass “on budget and on time.”

Eureka President Terry Web said the project was considerably challenging because it was essential for the library to remain open during the renovation. Also, a record-setting number of strong summer storms threatened to deter the completion of the project.

The window replacement improved the energy efficiency of the library and created jobs for a number of previously unemployed people in the area – all of whom are still employed with Eureka, said Web.

“We couldn’t say more in praise to Eureka Metal and Glass and Tantala Associates,” said Lori Schwabenbauer, director of library services,.

Improving the heating, air conditioning, and lighting systems are next on the list of improvements to the library.

Holy Family University's Northeast Philadelphia Campus is located a few blocks down Frankford Avenue from the Andalusia section of Bensalem, where the . Holy Family's is also located in the township.