Beaver Stadium isn’t the only major athletics project moving forward. Here are 5 others
Although Beaver Stadium was the costliest and most high-profile project approved by Penn State’s board of trustees on Friday, five other sports-related projects were approved.
The full board of trustees voted to expend funds for those projects — totaling just more than $90 million — as well as the $70 million cost for the first phase of the Beaver Stadium renovations.
Alterations to the Greenberg Sports Complex, addition of an air facility for Olympic sport practice use and renovations to the East Area Locker Room were all approved unanimously.
Renovations to Jeffrey Field and the creation of a soccer operational facility just south of the field and renovations to the Lasch Football Building were approved with trustee Barry Fenchak the sole vote of opposition to each.
Below is a look at each of the other projects.
Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex
Estimated cost: $31.9 million
Details: Will turn the first floor lab swing space into an athletic training table and will renovate the ground floor swing space into a wellness and athletic training space. This is designed for all 31 athletic teams and the more than 800 student-athletes at University Park. Construction is slated to begin in August 2024 and end in August 2025.
Lasch Football Building
Estimated cost: $22 million
Details: Will renovate all offices and meeting spaces on the second floor, create new offices to accommodate current staff and expand/cover the building’s patio to create a new event space. This serves as Phase 2 of the Lasch renovation project, and the goal is to get this closer to $20 million. No timetable was shared.
Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex
Estimated cost: $21.25 million
Details: Will create a soccer operational facility just south of the field — it’s now in Rec Hall — and will renovate parking and the stadium. Restrooms and concession stands will also be improved. Construction will start in August 2024 and end in October 2025.
Indoor Practice Air Supported Structure
Estimated cost: $9.98 million
Details: Will build a new seasonal practice facility for Olympic athletic programs, with something that resembles the “bubble” practice facilities for NFL teams. It will be southeast of Jeffrey Field and will feature an artificial turf field, sports lighting and surface parking. Construction is expected to begin in March 2024, with the project’s anticipated completion in November 2024.
East Area Locker Room
Estimated cost: $5.2 million
Details: Will renovate the first floor sports performance area, office suite, fuel station, satellite athletic training area, IT suite and lobby. The existing training space here will be relocated to the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2024 with an end date of June 2024.
