PHILADELPHIA Local Jewish leaders, University of Pennsylvania officials and scores of students will take part in a ground-breaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4 for a new $12 million Hillel Center on the campus.

To be located on 39tth Street between Walnut and Locust streets, the 35,000-square-foot center will feature a dramatic two-story glass-enclosed entrance and recreation area, complete with coffee bar, and an outdoor terrace at the front of the building.

Already named Steinhardt Hall, it will contain a space large enough to accommodate the 500-600 students who worship at Friday services as well as dining facilities for the more than 200 who gather for kosher dining each evening. The hall will also have meeting rooms and administrative space for the 27 Jewish student organizations on campus, a graduate student lounge and a Judiac library and reading room.

"We wanted to provide a space where Jewish students of all practice patterns can feel comfortable being Jewish," said Rabbi Howard Alpert, executive director of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, which operates the center at Penn. "At the same time, we want to engage the University community and make them feel welcome as well."

The current 10,100 square-foot facility on 36th Street was built in 1946, and although expanded in 1982, it is far too small to serve the needs of Penn 6,000 Jewish students.

"Kosher dining has been out of the Hillel House for five years, most recently meeting at Irv Place on 41st Street," Alpert said.

With expected completion in spring 2003, the construction of Steinhardt Hall has been made possible through private donations.