Allegheny College, one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges for interdisciplinary learning and research, announced the largest single gift in the College’s history of $35 million from the estate of esteemed entrepreneur, philanthropist and alumnus, Philip L. St. Moritz ‘61, which will establish The Phil St. Moritz Center for Innovation at Reis Hall.
This momentous gift will fund the renovation and transformation of one of Allegheny’s hallmark buildings, Reis Hall, into a teaching and learning nexus that benefits students from all academic interests. Its celebrated history includes the distinction of being home to a library collection that in its earliest days caught the eye of Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams.
The St. Moritz Center will house the Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC) and the Department of Computer and Information Science, while providing technology and teaching spaces that span numerous academic disciplines. It will feature classrooms and collaborative study spaces, varied maker labs, and a multipurpose outdoor plaza.
ALIC integrates liberal arts learning, emerging technologies, and partnerships with regional organizations and manufacturing companies to support economic and workforce development. The lab empowers students and faculty to design and build prototypes of products, scientific instruments, artistic projects, robots, virtual environments, video games, smart devices, and more. The College’s Computer and Information Science Department is a trendsetter among liberal arts institutions with its array of programs in informatics, robotics, software engineering, ethics, and artificial intelligence geared to make a positive impact on the world.
We are honored and humbled that such an accomplished alumnus, through his legacy, would establish a Center to ensure that Allegheny College serves as a leader at the intersection of the liberal arts and emerging technologies equipping students for careers of the future,” said Ron Cole, president of Allegheny College. “I believe Phil would be proud that we are enlivening Reis Hall, one of the most iconic buildings at the center of Allegheny College’s campus, in his name.
A lifelong Pittsburgh resident, St. Moritz earned his B.S. in Economics from Allegheny College in 1961. After a tour of duty in the United States Air Force, he returned to Pittsburgh to found three industry-leading corporations under the St. Moritz Group – St. Moritz Building Services, St. Moritz Security Services, and St. Moritz Labor Services – and later added Bill’s Marine Service in Maryland to his entrepreneurial portfolio. Fueled by his successes, St. Moritz was devoted to giving back and lived a life of generous service through quiet philanthropy.
“Phil St. Moritz’s unwavering dedication to his employees and customers was only exceeded by his passion for his relationship with Allegheny College,” recalled Brian Fiscus, CFO of St. Moritz Group. “His investment in the future of Allegheny is typical of the inspirational legacy of this self-made entrepreneur, kind-hearted mentor and natural-born leader.”
This generous gift has played a pivotal role in helping the College reach $165 million of its $250 million campaign goal in less than three years. The “In for Allegheny: Our Pathway Forward” campaign brings Allegheny College’s Strategic Pathway goals to life by driving fundraising, fostering career connections, and engaging alumni ambassadors who demonstrate the transformative power of an Allegheny College education.
Photo by Liam Michel ’20
