The American House at Reading CollegeTowne is part of Alvernia鈥檚 downtown Reading footprint. The 45,000-square-foot property at 354 Penn Street was purchased in June 2022 as part of the university鈥檚 second phase of the Reading CollegeTowne initiative and an additional $20 million in downtown Reading investments.
In September 2023, Alvernia and Berks Community Health Center announced a partnership to expand healthcare access for downtown Reading residents and develop a state-of-the-art community-based health center that will be housed at the former American House property. In addition to traditional primary care services, the Berks Community Health Center will offer mental health services, nutrition and wellness education, financial literacy education, social services assistance, and warm hand-off referrals. The site will also host clinical experiential learning opportunities for Alvernia鈥檚 students in health care science and social services programs. By providing primary care alongside various comprehensive wrap-around services, BCHC鈥檚 new Community Health Center will serve over 2,000 unduplicated individuals during the first year of operation.
