SouthSide Commons has a fitness center, study rooms, pool tables, ping pong tables, shuffleboards and an outdoor recreation area.
And, because of its location—on the northwest boundary of the Lehigh campus and across from the Bethlehem Area School District’s Broughal Middle School—the new building adds another dimension to the vibrant relationship between the university and the city. As President John D. Simon pointed out at the building’s groundbreaking, Kline noted, “SouthSide Commons will open a world of possibilities for how Lehigh students interact with our outside community. ”
Patricia A. Johnson, vice president for finance and administration at Lehigh, welcomed guests to the celebration and introduced the speakers, including Tom Trubiana, executive director of Greystar Collegiate Housing, who noted the building opened on time and on budget.
“We have a lot to celebrate,” Trubiana said, adding the greatest impact will occur as students move into the facility and become part of the community.