Construction projects at both Beaver Stadium and the Lasch Football Building are well underway and slowly approaching completion just some two months away from the Nittany Lions’ season opener at Purdue.
At Beaver Stadium, the current work involves an increased gate entry area with asphalt pavement at Gate C, along with an additional concrete walkway on the west side of the wall. A concrete walkway will be added between Gates C and E. The project also includes some landscaping work along Porter and Curtin roads, with the removal of an earth mound and eight trees and re-sodding of the area. The area in question can be seen below.
“The plan includes grading, removal of trees and expanded walkways to ensure the safety and ease of access for pedestrians,” College Township engineer Don Franson wrote in a memo to council.
Not far away, Lasch Building renovations are still in full swing as the Nittany Lions’ weight room facility and various upgrades to that wing of the building continue. The current phase of construction is the first of two, with the next phase of upgrades is currently out to bid among contractors in the region. The expanded weight room facility is taking place with an approved budget of $48 million.
“The project is an addition and renovation to the Lasch Football Building, occurring in multiple phases. Phase 1 is currently under construction,” Penn State Office of Physical Plant notes on its website. “The second phase of the project, represented in this proposal package, is a renovation of the second-floor office space, inclusive of demolition, glass replacement, MEP systems, graphics, and interior finishes.”
At the time of the announcement according to now former Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour, roughly $8 million in funds had been raised through philanthropy while the rest was being funded by taxable and tax-free debt servicing in order to avoid further delays or increased costs. The project was slated to begin in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous renovations had been entirely funded by philanthropy.
