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Penn State Trustees Approve $95 Million Final Phase of East Halls Renovations

Update: The full Board of Trustees approved plans and funding for the final phase of East Halls renovations during its meeting on Friday, Nov. 11. Only trustee Barry Fenchak voted against the motion.

Original story:

A committee of Penn State trustees convened on Thursday to unanimously recommend adopting final plan approval and funding to complete the last phase of renovations to the largest housing complex on the University Park campus.

The Board of Trustees’ Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning gave its OK for the $95.3 million project phase, which would renovate Hastings, Stone and Snyder halls starting in May, paving the way for fall 2024 occupancy. The three dormitories stand as the last remaining unrenovated East Halls buildings, all of which date back to the 1960s.

If plans are approved by the full board on Friday, Penn State will implement upgrades across the three halls, including more efficient building systems that enable climate-controlled rooms and long-sought air-conditioning. Dorm renovations also include upgrades for ID card readers, laundry rooms, communal kitchens and social spaces, music practice rooms and semi-private bathrooms.

Penn State’s dorm renovations implement a number of structural upgrades, including the replacement of aging building systems such as boilers, roofs and plumbing lines. The project will also install new landscaping, security upgrades and accessibility improvements that bring dorms up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Upgraded common areas are one of many amenities offered by renovated housing at Penn State. Photo by Shannon Soboslay | Onward State

The final phase of East Halls refurbishments will reset $26.9 million worth of deferred maintenance backlog, according to Penn State. The upgrades are expected to add 50 years of life to the buildings.

“After several years of hard work, we are thrilled to be nearing the finish line of the multiphase East Halls renovation project,” said John Papazoglou, Penn State’s associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services. “This gives our students updated living spaces they can study and thrive in while developing lifelong friendships with one another. We also are thankful for the support of the board and the ability to pursue and complete this project with our self-supported funds, without the aid of tuition dollars or state appropriations.” 

While the project will substantially upgrade the remaining unrenovated East Halls dorms, it will not drastically change their capacity. The overall bed count across Hastings, Stone and Snyder halls will sit near 775, according to plans, although they will feature more traditional double rooms and fewer supplemental beds. According to Penn State, the three halls currently combine for 713 beds.

During their meeting on Thursday, trustees noted the growing demand for renovated housing among incoming and returning students. And while Penn State’s housing operations are self-funded through their generated revenue, renovated rooms will cost more for students. This year, an East Halls student living in a traditional, non-renovated double room pays $3,687 per semester, while a student in a renovated double room pays $4,160, a 12.8% increase.

“These student experiential enhancements translate to a greater sense of community, belonging and overall student satisfaction,” said Cheryl Fabrizi, the assistant vice president for Housing and Food Services. “There is a growing demand for renovated housing by incoming and returning students, as well as summer students and campus guests for camps and conferences.”

An artist’s rendering of the proposed East Halls dorm renovations, which include structural upgrades. Photo provided

East Halls stands as the largest residence hall complex on campus, and approximately half of Penn State’s freshmen live among the 16 co-ed dorms. According to university estimates, the refurbishment project will annually provide 4,612 students with renovated housing once construction concludes in 2024.

Bigler, Curtin and Packer halls are currently offline while they undergo refurbishments. They’re slated to reopen in time for the fall 2023 semester.

East Halls renovations began in 2016 as part of an effort to modernize the complex, ultimately increasing residential capacity while bringing dorms up to modern standards. The project included the construction of two new residence halls, adding to 14 that were remodeled and upgraded.

Once each East Halls residence hall is renovated, Penn State will take a one-year break before turning its focus to Pollock Halls. Starting in 2024, the university will gradually refurbish each Pollock dorm before concluding in the 2028-29 academic year. Renovations for Wolf, Ritner, Shulze, Hiester, Porter, Shunk and Beaver halls will be supported by the 2023-28 capital plan, while the remaining Hartranft and Mifflin halls will fall under the 2028-33 capital plan.

Before the pandemic, renovations in Pollock were slated to begin during the 2021-22 academic year. COVID-19-related complications put a two-year pause on the renovation projects.

The full Board of Trustees will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College. An agenda is available online. The meeting is open to the public and will be available via an online stream.