Will the Lehigh Valley See a New University?

Parlamis explaining Euclidian University

The New York Times has called New Jersey property and restaurant developer Michael Parlamis a "pillar of the community." He's the son of a Greek immigrant, who entered the United States one weak after the stock market crash of 1929. His father started a construction company, and Parlamis now has three of them, along with three restaurants. A Professional Engineer, he's a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, is a major contributor to the Greek Orthodox Church and has even endowed a fellowship at his old alma mater, M.I.T. When his son attended Lehigh University, Parlamis became acquainted with the Lehigh Valley, and now he'd like to build a university here.

It's called Euclidean University, in honor of the father of geometry. It will be located on 391 acres along the west side of Rte. 512 in East Allen Township. Because the campus will be right at the Hanover and East Allen borders, there will be a need to work with Hanover for infrastructure. So at their August 23 meeting, Parlamis provided Hanover Supervisors with an overview.

Potential enrollment is estimated at 3,000 to 4,000 students, with principal access via Rte. 512. The Hellenic  architecture of Ancient Greece will govern campus construction, with the central building based on the Library of Hadrian in Athens.

Parlamis stated that a large statue of Thomas Jefferson will be the cornerpiece, with smaller statues of individual signers of the Declaration of Independence. He noted that Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, which was built with Classic Roman architecture.

"America's long term security is in education," Parlamis argued, explaining that here is a real shortage of engineers who actually know how things work. "This is one step in the right direction."

Noting that Benjamin Franklin started the University of Pennsylvania with nothing, Parlamis believes this concept will succeed, but over a period of thirty to forty years. At age 71, Parlamis will be long gone before that happens. But he quickly added that his favorite person, Thomas Jefferson, started the University of Virginia in the last seven years of his life.

Parlamis noted that Thomas Jefferson's epitaph notes that he is the author of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the University of Virginia, but makes no mention that he was President of the United States. Jefferson explained that he would rather be remembered by what he had given the people instead of by what the people had given him.

This son of a Greek immigrant would like to give the Lehigh Valley a university.

Sketch of Euclidian University