Saint Peter’s University will be opening a new six-story residence hall, complete with contemporary suite-style rooms with private bathrooms and a variety of amenities for students, as well as a fantastic backdrop of both the Jersey City and Manhattan skylines.
The building, located at 762 Montgomery St. near the University’s Mac Mahon Student Center, will be named Panepinto Hall in honor of Joseph A. Panepinto, a longtime supporter and advocate for Saint Peter’s and 1966 graduate who has served the university selflessly for many decades with exceptional contributions of time, talent and treasure.
The demand for apartment-style residences has grown at Saint Peter’s, and this new building will create a hub for residential life on the university’s East Campus. There is significant interest among current and prospective students in the new residence hall due to its modern amenities, which include kitchenettes, spacious study lounges, a large game room and modern laundry facilities, but also due to the facility’s close proximity to the Mac Mahon Student Center and McGinley Square.
“We are in an era of campus revitalization at Saint Peter’s, and Panepinto Hall is the latest project that will enhance our students’ experience,” Eugene Cornacchia, president of Saint Peter’s University, stated. “We are proud to name this building in honor of Joe Panepinto, an individual who has been an unwavering believer in Saint Peter’s. We are incredibly grateful for his extraordinary support and look forward to the future generations of students who will call Panepinto Hall home for many years to come.”
Panepinto, whose hometown is Jersey City, is CEO and president of Panepinto Properties Inc. In the fall of 2018, Panepinto made a $10 million gift to Saint Peter’s, which at the time was the largest single gift in the university’s history. In addition to his philanthropy, Panepinto served Saint Peter’s for many years as a regent and trustee, supporting several presidents and board chairs and providing exceptional wisdom and expertise on countless matters related to real estate, campus growth, master and strategic planning, facilities and construction projects and fundraising.
“It was exactly 60 years ago that I enrolled at Saint Peter’s College and, while many things have changed since then, the issues and concerns that 18-year-old students face today are not unlike those we faced decades ago,” Panepinto stated. “What Saint Peter’s affords first-generation and other college students is the opportunity to learn, explore and choose a direction in which they feel they can fulfill their life. This new student residence hall will provide students the opportunity to study and live on campus, meet students from all different walks of life and gain independence while continuing to have a support network to help them during their transition from student life to a professional and business life.”
The university will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening and naming of the residence hall at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
