Thanks to years of planning and collaboration, the 118,000-square-foot facility in Bellefonte will consolidate all county human services in one place, transforming the former nursing home into a “one-stop shop” for residents at every stage of life.

For nearly 90 years, the building served as Centre Crest, a county-run nursing home. Since its closure in 2021, it has undergone millions in renovations to transform it into a facility designed to serve the community’s needs well into the future.

Speaking at Thursday evening’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Commissioner Amber Concepcion said the campus’s thoughtful design reflects Centre County’s commitment to providing high-quality care and service to residents.

“The co-location of all these departments represents not only convenience for residents, who will find all of these services in one place, but also a commitment to collaboration and continual improvement in how we care for those in need in our communities.”

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS The outside of the new, $30 million Community Services Building at 502 E. Howard St., Bellefonte. The building was formerly Centre Crest, a nursing home for over 80 years.

She said the building’s carefully planned spaces were intentionally designed to meet residents’ needs while supporting the work being done inside.

“All county residents will benefit from this investment, which expands access to services in an environment that recognizes and supports the critical role of staff,” she said.

The building at 502 E. Howard St. will house the county’s offices of Adult Services; Aging; Veterans Affairs; Children and Youth Services; Elections and Voter Registration; Records; and Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Early Intervention and Drug & Alcohol, along with the Bellefonte Senior Center, which has yet to relocate.

Each office, the commissioner said, was designed with trauma-informed care in mind, creating spaces that feel calm and welcoming while respecting privacy.

Concepcion attributed the success of the renovation project, which came in on budget, to county administration, led by John Franek, whom she said “has provided forward-thinking leadership on this project and acute attention to detail along the way.”

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Administrator John Franek, Jr. answers questions from the press regarding the county’s new Community Services Building.

After Concepcion spoke, State Rep. Paul Takac (D-Centre), whose district includes the newly opened office building, addressed the audience.

Takac, who described the Community Services Building as a “remarkably well-done and much-needed facility,” said, “I’m not sure many people realize or fully appreciate the key role our counties play in delivering high-quality human services across the commonwealth. They are the vital link between federal programs, state agencies, local partner organizations and the people we all serve.”

Calling county government “truly invaluable” to the health and well-being of the community, he said, “We are truly blessed to have such professional, dedicated and effective public servants.”

Takac was not the only honored guest at Thursday’s ribbon cutting. Also in attendance were representatives from the offices of Senators McCormick and Fetterman, Congressman Thompson, State Rep. Conklin and State Senators Langerholc and Dush; various county judges; County Treasurer Colleen Kennedy; Penn State Director of Local Government and Community Relations Julian Morales; former County Administrator Margaret Gray; Bellefonte Borough Council members Doug Johnson and Joanne Tosti-Vasey; President of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau Fitz Smith; representatives from Port Matilda, Boggs, Ferguson and Harris townships; and officials from the Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services and Military and Veterans Affairs, among others.

Up next at the podium, Commissioner Steve Dershem expressed his gratitude to county staff and contributors, saying, “So many people in this room have put blood, sweat and tears into this project.”

Reflecting on the building’s history, he said, “If you think about what this building represents, it always was a community services building,” referencing its past as a nursing facility. “I look around now and realize the vision has expanded. We’re not just providing a home for residents; we’re providing services from cradle to the end of days.”

“This building was built in 1938. I think 100 years from now we’ll still be celebrating its use… That’s the spirit of local government – making good things happen and repurposing,” he said.

“Every detail is designed with purpose to ensure that everyone who walks through the doors feels seen, supported and empowered,” said Commissioner Mark Higgins, who spoke last.

He said the building reflects the community’s enduring commitment to compassion, dignity and justice, and that the improvements are much more than cosmetic.

Among the building’s most eye-catching features are a stunning atrium with a floor-to-ceiling water feature; more welcoming waiting areas; conference rooms with updated technology; an expansive, climate-controlled records space capable of housing a third of the county’s 15,000-plus documents; and a fully furnished visitation suite where parents can practice real-world parenting skills and where children can stay temporarily if they have nowhere else to go.

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“Human services are the quiet engine of a thriving community,” said Higgins, describing them as both a bridge to opportunity and a safety net that ensures no one is left behind. “The main beneficiaries will be the roughly 42,000 residents of Centre County who use a county service each year.”

Before taking questions from the press, Higgins read comments from former Chair of the Centre County Commissioners and champion of the remodel Mike Pipe, who was unable to attend the ribbon cutting because of a sudden illness in his family.

“Since its construction nearly 100 years ago, this building was a place for people to find help, to heal and hope. The investment made to repair, rejuvenate and reopen Centre Crest as the Community Services Building ensures the residents of Centre County will continue its original legacy. Thanks to all who made this possible,” Pipe said.

Concluding his comments, Higgins said this, “Today, we didn’t just cut a ribbon, we opened a new chapter. One grounded in fairness, service and hope. May this building continue to be a place where health is given freely, dignity is preserved and lives are changed for the better.”

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS A view inside the Community Service Building’s visitation suite, where child guardians can practice parenting skills and displaced children can temporarily stay in the event that they have no one to be placed with.

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