Beyond the Geneva Archway, past Reeves Field and Conrady Softball Field, and around the bend behind Merriman Athletic Track and Field, 7th Ave. Extension leads to two large buildings. One of these is an office complex attached to an expansive warehouse with towering bays. By spring semester, the warehouse echoed with throws ricocheting off 43-foot ceilings, sprints and hurdles, and the voices of Geneva’s track and field athletes and coaches.

Welcome to Geneva’s Riverfront Property.

Once an industrial facility with almost entirely new buildings, the approximately $9.3 million Riverfront Property was gifted to the College in 2022 by AES Realty, LLC. The two buildings are only a portion of the full property, which spans 21 acres along the eastern border of Geneva’s campus. The property begins just south of the Eastvale Bridge and extends just north of the current northern border of campus, along the Beaver River.

The Riverfront Property contributes to the College’s mission through furthering athletics, engineering, recreational spaces for the entire student body, and community partnerships.

“This is the largest gift ever given to Geneva College. Its potential to impact athletics, provide recreational space for all students, and strengthen the engineering program is incredible,” says Marv Dewey, EdD, retiring president of the Geneva College Foundation. “Improving this area of the campus is a high priority in Geneva’s strategic plan and doing so will likely be a major focus in Geneva’s next campaign.”

The Riverfront Property is under development to introduce both an engineering center and a sports and recreation center to the campus community.

The Riverfront Vision for Engineering

Geneva’s ABET-accredited engineering program offers hands-on experience and project-based learning. It has been nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report and emphasizes an interdisciplinary model, which prepares students for workplace collaboration and creativity. Geneva’s program is rooted in a liberal arts core and an integration of faith and learning, producing strong communicators and thoughtful, versatile engineers.

A new engineering center furthers this initiative by providing a large, well-equipped space for innovative learning and fully equipped offices and classrooms in immediate proximity. Geneva’s strategic plan includes moving the entire engineering program to the Riverfront Property, a priority for the College’s next campaign.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to develop the Engineering Center as a lead project in making Geneva a ‘best-in-class' STEM program, highlighting our strategic focus on innovative leadership, quality programs, and excellent facilities,” says President Calvin Troup, PhD.

The Riverfront Vision for Athletics and Recreation

The new sports center reflects an investment in Geneva’s student-athletes, all-campus recreational opportunities, and community partnerships. The larger of the two warehouse bays will become the David Murray Soccer Center, while the smaller bay will become a multisport court, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball. With the added recreational space, student clubs, intramural teams, and more will see an opportunity for expanded programming.

"The Riverfront Property will provide great opportunities for every one of our student-athletes," says Director of Athletics Van Zanic.

The sports center will allow for weather-proof practices year-round, including training space in the winter for all athletes. Though soccer players may see the most use from the David Murray Soccer Center, Zanic notes that football players will be able to practice pass-patterns in the turfed bay in the winter, softball and baseball players can practice fly-ball work beneath high ceilings and in batting cages, and the lacrosse team will have space for indoor training.

Golden Tornadoes from every sport will benefit from this new facility in their pursuit of relentless heart and athletic discipline. Our student-athletes continue to grow in character and talent as our community cheers wholeheartedly for the work on the field and behind the scenes.

“The Riverfront Property is just a gamechanger for us across the board,” says Zanic.

The facility has already delivered results for Geneva’s track and field team, which began utilizing the space during the indoor season under the leadership of Head Coach Phil Thompson. “We’ve been able to do full throws, full jumps, hurdles, sprints,” Thompson says.

This investment led to both the women’s and men’s track and field teams earning PAC Championships at the indoor track and field championships in February. This was the first PAC championship in program history for the women, and the eighth for the men. Both teams again earned PAC Championships at the outdoor track and field championship in May. These accomplishments followed the cross country teams’ wins in the fall, making conference history with a clean sweep of the 2025-26 season.

Honoring a Legacy: The David Murray Soccer Center

The Riverfront Property intersects with another story — the legacy of Coach David Murray.

Murray served as head soccer coach for 16 seasons, beginning in 1990. Under his excellent coaching, the Golden Tornadoes rose to national prominence, winning the school’s first NCCAA title in 1994. A fatal accident took his life in July 2021. Soccer alumni have sought a way to honor his legacy over the past five years, and the Riverfront Property presented this opportunity.

With the support of Murray’s family, the College will dedicate the athletics center as the David Murray Soccer Center. Soccer alumni are currently giving to develop this initiative, led by the Geneva College Foundation. Of the $660,000 needed, $446,000 (67%) has been committed to this project. Alumni in other sports that will benefit from this improvement will also be invited to participate.

“Dave cared more about his players as individuals than athletes,” says Ron Eldridge ‘88, who has provided a matching gift towards the development of the center. The indoor space will feature a specific callout to Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” recognizing Murray’s influence in shaping young people on and off the field.

The Riverfront Vision for Community Partnership

The Riverfront Property presents opportunities for both the College and Beaver Falls, notably through the recreational spaces, possibilities of indoor sports clinics and other events, and a phased Rails to Trails expansion.

“We’re excited to invite alumni and friends into the conversations of what we’re starting down here,” says Lindsay Courteau, associate vice president of strategic partnerships and community engagement. “The Riverfront Property presents a lot of opportunity for Geneva College. As a member of the Beaver Falls community, we’re excited for this extension of our campus and what it means for community members."

Formerly home to empty buildings, the Riverfront Property grows in potential as a vision for the future and a strategic extension of Geneva’s campus.