The University of Dayton and The Entrepreneurs’ Center will host a grand opening ceremony for the third floor space at The Hub Powered by PNC Bank at the Dayton Arcade 2-4 p.m. Friday, May 19. Media are invited to tour the space, known as the Upper Deck, at 1:30 p.m. 

The 13,500-square-foot Upper Deck adds 46 office spaces, a 100-seat classroom and event space to The Hub. At 95,000 total square feet, The Hub is among the largest university-anchored innovation hubs in the country, including shared and private office spaces, meeting rooms, conference areas, pop-up retail opportunities, learning labs and classrooms.

“The opening of the Upper Deck is the culmination of the vision that began nearly five years ago between the University of Dayton, the Entrepreneurs’ Center, and the Arcade developers to restore the storied Arcade into a powerful site for student learning and entrepreneurial opportunity,” said University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina. “The expansion of the space increases both our capacity for small businesses and for larger academic classes.”

When UD and the Entrepreneurs’ Center entered a joint venture agreement in 2019 to become anchor tenants in the redevelopment of the historic Dayton Arcade, their original plan for the 95,000-square-foot space included the third floor. This expanded vision was realized after Congressman Mike Turner secured $3 million in Congressional Community Project funding for the Hub.

“Congressman Mike Turner’s leadership in directing this funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the city has made this next phase of The Hub Powered by PNC Bank a reality,” said Vince Lewis, president of The Hub and UD associate vice president for entrepreneurial initiatives. “The Hub’s unique approach to blending active coworking with a multidisciplinary academic space has created incredible university and community engagement in our first 24 months.”

The delay of the third-floor development gave Hub leaders the opportunity to learn from members and clients during the first two years of operation about what was desired in the new space. That led to the addition of more private offices and a larger classroom.

“We’re confident about the appeal of the Arcade Innovation Hub project, demonstrated through the demand for space in our first phase,” said Hub board chair and UD Executive Vice President for Business and Administrative Services Andy Horner. “Our private office space was full just a few months after opening in March 2021, and our new office space is beginning to quickly fill through new memberships even before we’ve opened the floor.”

Since it opened in 2021, The Hub’s occupancy has grown from 14 to 130 member companies, and last semester it hosted 40 course sections with more than 550 students from UD and Sinclair Community College.

“The Hub is an incredibly unique environment for a small business, and our third-floor expansion will let us fully meet the needs of current and future members,” said Scott Koorndyk, president of The Entrepreneurs’ Center. “The Hub is the place where members can find a steady source of incredibly talented students, peer engagement and small business support programs to take their businesses to the next level. I can’t think of a more dynamic place for a small business to be.”

For interviews, please contact Shannon Miller, associate director of news and communications, at smiller6@udayton.edu. If you need information or would like to inquire about renting office space or using the event space, contact bkling@thehubdayton.com.