Luzerne Intermediate Unit Strikes Deal for New Headquarters

The educational organization will lease land from Wilkes-Barre Area School District to build a larger facility.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:54pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of stacked textbooks and school supplies repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the energy and creativity of the educational partnership between the two organizations.A vibrant, pop art-inspired illustration celebrates the collaborative investment in educational resources and programming by the Luzerne Intermediate Unit and Wilkes-Barre Area School District.Wilkes-Barre Today

The Luzerne Intermediate Unit #18 has entered into an agreement to lease property from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District to build a new headquarters and central office location. The 4.7-acre parcel on Maffett Street will allow the LIU to expand and better accommodate its growing needs and the needs of the school communities it serves.

Why it matters

The current LIU headquarters in Kingston is too small to meet the organization's expanding requirements. The new facility will provide more office, event, educational, and professional development space to better support regional schools and students.

The details

Under the agreement, the LIU will develop the property, handling the design, planning, and financing. Wilkes-Barre Area School District will collect a nominal rent on the long-term lease and may have the option to rent space at the new facility for its own events. The final project size and cost are still to be determined, but initial estimates range from 30,000 to 40,000 square feet and $12 million to $16 million.

  • The Wilkes-Barre Area Board of Education ratified the agreement on March 30, 2026.
  • The Luzerne Intermediate Unit Board of Directors has also approved the agreement.

The players

Luzerne Intermediate Unit #18

An educational organization that serves regional schools and students in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Wilkes-Barre Area School District

A public school district in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania that is leasing land to the Luzerne Intermediate Unit.

Tony Grieco

Executive Director of the Luzerne Intermediate Unit.

Brian Costello

Superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.

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What they’re saying

“We're experiencing a period of growth over the last several years and our building here just isn't large enough to do everything we need to do at this point.”

— Tony Grieco, Executive Director, Luzerne Intermediate Unit

“The I.U. trains all across the county, all school districts that are part of I.U. 18, so we would be part of that.”

— Brian Costello, Superintendent, Wilkes-Barre Area School District

What’s next

The LIU and Wilkes-Barre Area will next conduct a preliminary investigation of the site, including surveys and environmental studies, to determine the full scope of the project.

The takeaway

This partnership between the Luzerne Intermediate Unit and Wilkes-Barre Area School District will allow the LIU to expand its educational services and support for regional schools, while also providing new opportunities for the Wilkes-Barre community to utilize the facility.