Bluffton University Receives Allen County Land Bank Grant to Demolish Berky Hall

Bluffton University has received a grant from Allen County Land Bank to demolish Berky Hall. 

“Bluffton University is grateful to receive a grant from Allen County Land Bank to assist us in the removal of Berky Hall on the Bluffton campus,” said Phill Talavinia, vice president of student life and athletics. “Now that we have the new Knowlton Science Center in place, we can remove the old science building and use the space in more impactful ways.”

Built in 1914, Berky Hall housed Bluffton University’s nutrition and dietetics department and the fashion and interior design program in addition to a number of classrooms.  With the addition of Knowlton Science Center in 2023, Berky Hall has been a vacant space on Bluffton’s campus.

The goal of the Allen County Land Bank is to demolish vacant areas in Allen County to help establish healthy, safe and friendly neighborhoods in the communities throughout Allen County.

Demolition is not scheduled to take place until mid-to-late May 2025, but remediation work will be completed in the coming months.