The Alumni Center is named after Ed Hintz, class of 1959, and his family. Mr. Hintz is president of Hintz, Holman, and Hecksher, Inc., a private money management firm in New York City. He is an Alumni Fellow and a Distinguished Alumnus of the University. He served as chairman of Penn State’s Grand Destiny Campaign before becoming president of Penn State’s Board of Trustees in January 2001.

Before the building was named “Hintz Family Alumni Center,” it was known as University House—the oldest building on campus. From 1864 to 1970, University House served as the official University president’s residence.

1860s
President’s House was completed in 1864 for president Evan Pugh and his new bride Rebecca Valentine of Bellefonte. Unfortunately, Pugh died of typhoid fever at the age of 36, eight months before its completion. The Italianate-style farmhouse had several major renovations.

1880s
In the 1880s, several porches were added, including one that wrapped around Mrs. Atherton’s prized apple tree.

1890s
Around 1895 a third floor was added and the house was transformed into a fine example of Queen Anne-style architecture. Much entertaining highlighted the tenure of President Edwin Sparks (1908–1920). His wife Katherine created a minor flurry when she ordered silver wallpaper for the presidential parlors at $10/roll, an exorbitant price at the time.

1940s
The last major renovation to the President’s House took place in 1939-40. It added the large portico and columns that give the house a Southern Plantation look popularized at that time by the release of Gone With the Wind. Some famous people dined at the President’s House in the early part of the 20th century including Charles Schwab and Andrew Carnegie. President Dwight Eisenhower visited his brother, Milton, who was Penn State’s president, several times in the 1950s. President Milton Eisenhower (1950–1956) would leave the porch light on to indicate to students that they were welcome.

1960s
President Eric Walker (1956–1970) was the last president to live in the President’s House. On April 20, 1970, protesters stormed the grounds of the President’s House voicing their opinions on the Vietnam War, minority enrollment at the University, and other political issues. It was determined that the house was not suitable for residence for the University's president. President Walker and his family moved out when he retired in 1970.

2000
Construction of the Hintz Family Alumni Center began with the removal of a kitchen and garage added in the last renovation. The Hintz Family Alumni Center addition tripled the size of the existing house.