January 24, 2025/Midnight
Erie, Pa.–– “Whether you know it as the Audi, whether you know it as the Hammermill or The Mill, and now you know it as the Highmark Events Center, this is our home.” – Gannon University President Dr. Walter Iwanenko
On January 15, the Gannon community gathered to reveal together for the first time the Highmark center after a complete renovation.
Gannon unveiled the Highmark events center Wednesday morning with a blessing and dedication ceremony.
Once originally known as the Gannon Auditorium or “The Audi” then renamed the Hammermill Center or “The Mill” honoring the generosity of Hammermill Paper Co.
While the center was under construction, many athletics took place indoors at Cathedral Preparatory School, with the wrestling teams utilizing the Recreation and Wellness Center.
The renovations of the now Highmark Center renovations were made possible by the naming rights agreement with Highmark Inc which had been announced in 2022. The renovations of the center were focused on modernizing and allowing a focus on growth of the university while still memorializing the old structures that came before which had housed Gannon’s athletics for 75 years.
President Dr. Iwanenko felt particularly proud of the new center and gave this statement on some of the unique and personal touches that allowed the memories of the old to stay with the new.
“Making sure we’re respecting our past. The cross on the wall is one of them. That cross is made from the bleachers from the original “Audi,” and the metal are the old basketball hoops that were taken out.”
Iwanenko had been provost while the project was just starting out and now, he gets to see it at its completion as President.
“It’s so important to get our students back to compete in this space.”
Previous President Dr. Taylor attended the women’s basketball game with excitement of the new and improved center.
“I think it turned out fantastic, the new colors and things really brighten it up.”
He also had enthusiasm for the stadium being more catering to the wrestling teams with a place to store the wrestling mats and that everything could be heard throughout the center.
“There were two things that I really wanted to make sure that they did in all this…you have to be able to hear, what people are saying…and you could hear perfectly…it’s a much better student experience.”
