With glass in hand, President Joseph J. Helble ’82 led the Lehigh community in a toast on Founder’s Weekend, celebrating the dedication of the renovated Clayton University Center at Packer Hall and the generosity of all who made it possible.
More than 200 students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends crowded into the first-floor Living Room of the revitalized center to mark the moment as donors gathered around the unveiled donor wall to find their names and take photographs.
Packer Hall, built in 1868 and last renovated in the 1950s, has long been a campus landmark. Helble said the Clayton UC has become central to the student experience since opening for student use in January.
“From casual meetups for coffee to an incredible array of dining options, from the Club Hub to the Great Room, this space is all about connections. The welcoming and supportive campus culture that I so often speak of? It starts right here, within these walls.”
Helble thanked Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds for his ongoing partnership with Lehigh, as well as Chris Cook, vice president for finance and administration, who led the project. Cook, in turn, expressed gratitude for the work of the Lehigh facilities team, architectural firm Shepley Bulfinch, and construction company Skanska, Inc., for completing the project on budget and ahead of schedule.
Special recognition went to lead donors Kevin L. Clayton ’84 P’13 and Lisa A. Clayton P’13, whose $20 million gift to the project was announced on Founder’s Weekend in 2018. Their generosity launched the project and inspired others to follow their philanthropic example.
“The Claytons embody the spirit of our founder, demonstrating a commitment and passion for the future of Lehigh while fully embracing our rich history and core values,” said Helble. “The Clayton family’s legacy of philanthropy has touched nearly every corner of our university. With this project, their legacy has become a centerpiece of the Lehigh landscape.”
Helble presented the Claytons with two mementos of the occasion: a replica of the painting in the Living Room arches, which provided the backdrop to the ceremony, and a piece of stained glass artwork designed to echo the windows in the Great Room.
Kevin Clayton spoke about why he and Lisa chose to support the project.
“We made the commitment because every person who comes to Lehigh — every professor, every staff member, coach, mentor, and of course, every student — passes through the halls of this building. Whether you visit during a campus tour, work here, earn your degree here, or stay connected as an alum for decades after graduation, the University Center is part of your experience.”
He invited Lehigh students to use the building to its fullest.
“I wish you all the best as you experience all that this beautiful building has to offer. May it be a place where you make friends. Where you make plans for the future. Where you make memories to last a lifetime.”
The dedication took place amid student activities, including a community Lego project, tours, and refreshments. Just before the ceremony, a time capsule filled with Lehigh artifacts and mementos was sealed to mark the event. The capsule will be opened by members of the Class of 2025 in the year 2076.
Clayton noted it was fitting for the dedication to be held during Founder’s Weekend.
“For 146 years, we have been remembering Asa Packer and celebrating his legacy. I am confident Asa would be impressed with the work we are doing together to ensure Lehigh remains strong and future generations of students remain successful.”’
