Knowledge Park Redevelopment Rooted in History
The Knowledge Park Redevelopment project revitalized York’s historic Schmidt & Ault Paper Company site for York College of Pennsylvania. The 200-year-old property became a modern business and innovation hub across three floors. The redevelopment created fit-out spaces for local businesses while expanding learning opportunities for students and faculty. Instead of separating classroom work from real-world experience, the project brought education and business into one shared setting. That connection gives the site a practical role in learning, entrepreneurship, and community growth.
Knowledge Park Redevelopment Designed for Applied Learning
Within the redeveloped building, students can connect academic work with Project-Based Learning opportunities across several disciplines. Those opportunities span engineering, computer science, and liberal arts, giving the building a broad academic purpose. Because commercial tenant spaces sit within the same hub, learning can connect with real business activity. Faculty also gain a setting where classroom ideas can meet practical challenges. As a result, the building offers more than renovated space. It gives students a place to test ideas, collaborate, and see their work connect beyond campus.
Connecting Campus, Community, and Business
The 40-acre property also strengthens the relationship between York College and the surrounding community. Local businesses now have modern fit-out spaces within a site tied closely to the college. Meanwhile, the hub brings campus activity and commercial energy into the same redevelopment. This mix helps cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem with long-term value for the region. For York, the project creates a stronger bridge between education, local business, and community opportunity.
Honoring Industrial Heritage Through Modern Design
The historic renovation respects the building’s industrial roots while introducing a more contemporary front entrance. A sleek glass storefront and updated facade modernize the building without losing its heritage. Since the site once served as a paper company, that balance gave the exterior work added meaning. Construction began in May 2022 and finished in November 2024, marking a major step in the property’s transformation.
Building Long-Term Value for York College
Warfel helped deliver a redevelopment shaped by history, education, and regional connection. The completed Knowledge Park Redevelopment gives York College a cutting-edge educational and business center with purpose beyond the classroom. It creates room for students, faculty, and local businesses to share space within a building rooted in York’s industrial past. For York College of Pennsylvania, the project reflects thoughtful redevelopment, partnership, and long-term investment in the surrounding community.
