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Etna Center For Community Renovation Project To Showcase Sustainability, Green Building Principles In Allegheny County

The Etna Community Organization announced that Volpatt Construction has been awarded the $4.2 million contract for the Etna Center for Community project that will highlight sustainability and green building principles.

Construction will begin immediately on the renovation of the historic Ochse Hall (pronounced ock-see), originally built in the 1870s by one of Etna’s founding families.

Once complete, the Etna Center for Community will include a public library, an office for the nonprofit ECO, a new “great room” addition, a courtyard dedicated to former Etna Mayor Tom Rengers and his family, and modern apartments across two upper floors.

“As a contractor known for the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, we are honored to partner with ECO to restore this beloved property and provide the community with a place to gather,” said Michael Volpatt, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Volpatt.

ECO and its partner, the Borough of Etna, have been working to establish a public library in the community since 2017, when the idea began gaining traction among residents.

At that time, Etna was engaged in a catalytic community planning process known as the Etna EcoDistrict, where neighbors came together to envision a more vibrant and sustainable future for the borough.

As an outgrowth of that process, ECO acquired the property at 341-343 Butler Street in 2021 and began planning the future facility.

For three years, ECO hosted free community programs at the building, 341-343 Butler Street, while it fundraised for construction—now officially underway.

“We’re excited to be celebrating this significant milestone for our community,” said Bridget Barrett, President of the Etna Community Organization Board. “The renovation of this historic asset marks the beginning of a new era of opportunity for all residents. We are committed to realizing the Etna Center for Community as a place that reflects our core values—sustainability, resiliency, and social equity. Once completed, it will be a beautiful, high-performing building with a strong focus on sustainable design, and it will serve as a thriving neighborhood hub for learning, connection, and growth for generations to come.”

While creating an inclusive, welcoming space for all ages has been the top priority for the Etna Center for Community, ECO has also remained deeply committed to sustainability principles that support both human and environmental health.

“Since 2004, Etna Borough has dedicated its efforts to advancing resilience, adopting green infrastructure, and implementing comprehensive stormwater management strategies to enhance community safety against flooding and other environmental risks.,” said Veni Mittal, ECO Board Treasurer and local sustainability professional. “Along the way, Etna proved that these strategies could also make the community more engaging and beautiful too. In keeping with that legacy, the Etna Center for Community prioritizes indoor air quality to support the wellbeing of all visitors and staff, on-site energy generation through two solar PV arrays to reduce operating costs, and 100% rainwater collection and diversion to reduce the impact of future storms. These features not only offer functional benefits—they’ll also bring beauty and character to the space.”

These same principles are shared by Volpatt.

“As selective demolition gets underway at the site, we are working collectively with our partners to develop a waste diversion plan in line with ECO’s sustainability objectives,” shared Michael Volpatt.

In collaboration with Volpatt, Construction Junction will be deconstructing interior old-growth timber not being used in the future building and reselling it at their facility, while Michael Brothers will source separate other waste streams and recycle when possible.

To add transparency to the process, Volpatt will issue a monthly report detailing the total tonnage diverted from the landfill.

Leading the charge in Etna’s resurgence and pivot toward green infrastructure, Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage knows how deeply this project matters to residents.

“As someone who grew up in this community—and lived the experience, as a young person, of losing such an asset—I am thrilled to see this coming back to Etna,” said Ramage, reflecting on her time frequenting the former Etna Library.

The borough has had several libraries throughout its history, the last of which closed after the devastating flooding from Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

“Our people are our greatest asset, and by bringing back this kind of public space and shared resources, we can only grow closer and stronger.”

ECO Executive Director Megan Tuñón and Etna Mayor Robert Tuñón have championed the Etna Center for Community since the idea first emerged during the Etna EcoDistrict process.

“For us, there was a commitment made when the community spent years outlining and detailing Etna’s vision for the future. In that vision, the Etna Center for Community was the cornerstone—the catalyst for so much of what we hoped to accomplish,” said Tuñón.

“A library in the heart of our community is the most important thing we could do—for our children and our seniors alike,” added Mayor Tuñón. “We wouldn't be starting construction without the incredible support we’ve received from our partners at the county, state, and federal levels, who came through with key grants that made this project possible.”

Congressman Chris Deluzio, County Executive Sara Innamorato, State Senator Lindsey Williams, and State Rep. Lindsay Powell have each provided essential support to move the project forward.

“I’m proud to have brought home $3 million in federal funds to help power the Etna Center for Community—and I’m excited that the project is taking this big step forward after so much hard work,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “Congratulations to the Etna Community Organization, the Borough of Etna, and everyone on the team who has worked for years to get us where we are now.”

The Etna Center for Community is expected to open in Spring-Summer 2026.

For more information, contact Megan Tuñón, Executive Director, Etna Community Organization, at 412-660-4667 or megan@etnacommunity.org or Michael Volpatt, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation, Volpatt Construction, at 415-994-8864 or mvolpatt@volpatt.com.

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