In order to account for the ever-increasing undergraduate population and update campus dorms, Penn State is building two new residence halls at University Park, one in the East Halls complex and one in the North Halls complex. At Thursday morning’s Board of Trustees committee meeting on business, finance, and capital planning, the university proposed names for the new dorms.
The new dorm in East Halls (architectural rendering pictured), which is already under construction at the intersection of Park Avenue and Bigler Road, will be named Earle Hall, in honor of George Howard Earle III. Earle was the 30th Governor of Pennsylvania, serving a four-year term from 1935-1939. Earle, a major Penn State supporter, will be in good company — every dorm building in East Halls is named after a former Pennsylvania governor.
The new residence hall in East will house 336 beds and feature double rooms – the type with the highest demand – along with shared private bathrooms, an apartment for a Residence Life professional, lounge and study space and movable furniture. Construction is expected to be completed in July 2017.
The new building in North will follow the same trend as the others in the area, which are all named after notable women in Penn State history. Trustees recommended Robinson Hall for the new dorm, in honor of Sarah E. Robinson. Robinson was the first music instructor at Penn State, when it was known as the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania.
The new dorm in North will house 310 beds, most in double rooms, and private bathrooms and air conditioning. Construction on the hall began in March.
The trustees also officially proposed to rename the men’s lacrosse locker room in the East Area Locker Room Building to the Connor Darcey Memorial Locker Room in honor of the late lacrosse player who suddenly and tragically passed away last year. The team presented the honor during the season this spring, but the Board will move to make it official tomorrow.
The trustees will make an official vote in adapting all three names tomorrow during the full Board meeting in Wilkes-Barre.
