![Helen and DeLight Breidegam Jr. Student Center Opens]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770150231/perkiomen/peonmrkjqcuenbgkiw4c/StudentCenterThumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770150231/perkiomen/peonmrkjqcuenbgkiw4c/StudentCenterThumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770150231/perkiomen/peonmrkjqcuenbgkiw4c/StudentCenterThumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770150231/perkiomen/peonmrkjqcuenbgkiw4c/StudentCenterThumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770150231/perkiomen/peonmrkjqcuenbgkiw4c/StudentCenterThumbnail.jpg","width":1285}])
Perkiomen School proudly announces the opening of the Helen and DeLight Breidegam Jr. Student Center, a transformative new space designed to enrich student life and strengthen community on campus.
The Student Center officially opened to students on November 3, 2025, following a celebratory opening with alumni and campaign supporters held on October 25, 2025, in conjunction with a celebration of the school's 150th Anniversary.
Students now have a natural destination with one-stop convenience for many daily tasks. Key features include:
Institute and Student Life Offices - Faculty offices are now located in the heart of the campus, making support more accessible throughout the day.
Flexible Performance Space - Specially designed areas for dynamic school events, presentations, and musical performances that bring the student body together.
Work and Play Areas - Comfortable lounges and collaborative work zones give students space to study, relax, and connect.
Lloyd’s Café - A modern gathering spot for the community to meet for great food and casual interaction, and of course, the famous "Robbie's Cookies."
Fritz Family Store - This expanded space for shopping now serves as the school’s bookstore and community retail space.
Prototyping Lab & Design Studio - Innovators and makers now have dedicated space to experiment with ideas and projects.
eGaming Studio - A modern entertainment and digital design space where students can connect through gaming and technology.
Art Studios - Students have space and lighting to create something spectacular, from jewelry to 2D and 3D art.
Teaching Kitchen - This fully functional kitchen is home to nutrition classes, design classes, and is a place where students can gather to cook and bake together in their free time.
As Head of School Mark A. Devey describes, "The Student Center is a creative think tank — a vibrant hub, where students and faculty experiment at the intersection of arts, food, and community. We celebrate creativity, cultivate collaboration, participate in live performances, and bring people together through hands-on experiences — and prioritize in-person engagement over social media noise."
Designed by Flansburgh Architects, this innovative building blends historic inspiration with a bold, contemporary vision. Host Mike Chapman from America ByDESIGN™ recently visited campus to explore our student center for an episode of the show. Click HERE to view the segment and hear from the architects about the building's design, and the role it is now playing at Perkiomen School.
Alumnus Daniel Breidegam '71 made a significant gift to the Our Moment to Lead Capital Campaign. Breidegam’s leadership gift combined with other noteworthy contributions enabled Perkiomen School to begin construction on their new student center in 2023.
When asked why he wanted to support this project at this time, Breidegam’s answer was simple: “Perkiomen needed it.”
Breidegam is the Chairman of East Penn Manufacturing, one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers, with locations in Berks County and Corydon, Iowa. The company was founded by his father and grandfather - DeLight Breidegam, Jr. and Sr. - in 1946 and over the last seven decades has grown to more than 10,500 employees who sustain a culture of values that include family, respect, integrity, and quality.
Breidegam ultimately chose to name the student center after his parents, Helen and DeLight, to honor their legacy.
“Both of my parents had wisdom as to what was important in life,” shares Breidegam. “They enjoyed very much to provide opportunities to people and see their accomplishments. They tried to share that belief and have provided the ability to continue that work. I am proud to view this project as an example of their work.”
The Our Moment to Lead Campaign, the largest comprehensive campaign in the school’s history with a goal of $45 million, inspired the Perkiomen community to make unprecedented investments to serve students and families, to attract and retain outstanding faculty, and to lead the next generation of education innovation.