Mercersburg sets out a $45 million science hall, with construction due in 2027
Mercersburg Academy held a ceremonial groundbreaking on 23 October 2026 for Zern Hall for Science and Innovation, a project currently estimated at $45 million. The school says physical construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and the building is planned to open in 2029.
A flexible technical brief
The published program includes adaptable research areas, environmental science and advanced computer science spaces, engineering classrooms, a wood and metal shop, 3D-printing and robotics facilities, and a multiuse lecture room. The site is on the academic quadrangle near Keil Hall and Ford Hall.
The academy reports nearly $25 million raised toward construction, together with $10 million designated for endowment and long-term upkeep. Those funding figures describe campaign progress; they do not mean the full projected cost has already been secured.
Why the gap before construction matters
Laboratories, workshops and computing spaces carry different ventilation, power, acoustic and safety demands. The period before the 2027 construction start is therefore a critical coordination window: “flexibility” only becomes useful when structural grids, service distribution and equipment clearances are resolved without forcing costly late changes.
