5 upcoming construction projects to watch in and around Penn State, State College
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Nearly two dozen projects have either been approved or are under construction both in State College Borough and at Penn State, according to public documents, signaling more change on the way for visitors and residents alike.
Some projects, such as the upcoming bird garden at Foxdale Village Retirement Community, are small and unlikely to attract out-of-town visitors. Others, like the $48 million Lasch Football Building renovations, won’t be seen firsthand by most in Centre County — although the impact could make for a better product inside Beaver Stadium.
A lot of projects, however, from parks to museums, are likely to directly affect the lives of students and residents. Here’s a closer look at those projects, with a focus on the five especially worth keeping an eye on:
1. Palmer Museum of Art
Who: Penn State
Where: Near The Arboretum (East Park Avenue and Bigler Road)
When it will open: Fall 2023 (Construction started in July 2021)
What it is: Let’s start off with what it’s not — and what this isn’t is the 50-year-old museum on Curtin Road. Although it goes by the same name, this project will replace and relocate the old museum with a completely different, $85 million art museum that the university has billed as the largest between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
The new 71,000-square-foot facility will house between 7% and 8% of the university’s 10,260-piece art collection, doubling the current facility’s 3-4%. According to officials, who cited surveys and studies, the new museum is expected to nearly triple annual attendance from 35,000 to 95,000 while creating more job opportunities and more visiting opportunities for K-12 students.
Penn State has previously said it views the new museum as part of a “cultural gateway,” a first step in creating a hub that could one day include a planetarium, conservatory and performance space. None of those projects have yet become public, but it’s something worth following in the coming years.
2. Action Sports Park
Who: Borough/Citizens group
Where: High Point Park (855 Whitehall Road)
When it will open: Early fall 2022 or sometime in 2023 (Construction not yet started)
What it is: This 18,000-square-foot skatepark is designed for all skill levels and “all wheels,” meaning skateboards, BMX bikes, scooters, in-line skates, etc. The nearest free, public skateparks now are in both Lock Haven and Philipsburg — which is a big reason why local residents have been pushing for this skatepark for nearly 10 years.
The $1.3 million skatepark design — which isn’t yet finalized — features granite and brick so it blends in with the town’s architecture, and four trees or plantings are positioned at one end of the skatepark to give it a plaza-like feel, in a nod to more famous parks such as Pulaski Park in Washington, D.C. The tentative design also includes steps, curbs, rails, ramps, a brick volcano — and even a granite centerpiece, a forgiving surface that one designer said could draw skaters from all over the state.
There is one caveat here, however. The citizens’ group that has helped spearhead this, alongside the borough, is still trying to procure about $480,000 in funding. If it can’t raise those funds in the coming months from more grants, private donations or additional municipalities, construction will have to be pushed back until 2023. Also, because the skatepark already has $500,000 in grants, it must construct the skatepark by next year or forfeit those funds. So, in some ways, it’s now or never.
3. Engineering Research and Teaching Space 1
Who: Penn State
Where: West side of University Park (Just off White Course Drive)
When it will open: Fall 2023 (Construction started July 2021)
What it is: This $228 million building, known as “West 1” for short, is among the many new buildings and renovations planned for the University Park campus. What makes this unique? Simple — its size.
At 290,000 square feet, West 1 will become one of the largest academic buildings on campus. (Its size makes it nearly 40% larger than Smeal’s Business Building.) West 1 will contain multidisciplinary research and teaching labs, general purpose classrooms, computer labs, office and administrative spaces, a small library, food service and dedicated student common areas. It will also house the college’s departments of aerospace, architectural, and civil and environmental engineering — in addition to having an indoor flight facility for drones.
This is just one part of the nearly $1 billion master plan, the first phase of which seeks to “revitalize” the West Campus through constructing two new academic buildings, building a parking garage (which opened last May), renovating the Sackett Building, landscaping, etc. But West 1 is the largest of those buildings, which officials have characterized as long overdue because of the growing number of engineering undergrads.
4. Core Spaces HUB - State College
Who: Core Spaces (Chicago-based developer)
Where: 400 block of East College Avenue
When it will open: Winter 2023 (Demolition started fall 2021)
What it is: This 12-story luxury high-rise in downtown State College will see two floors of retail/office space, with the 10 floors above containing 135 residential units with each containing between one and five bedrooms. The building will be taller than 150 feet.
A Core Spaces official previously told the CDT they’d like to add a pool terrace on the roof, while the apartments’ interior will most likely have computer labs, conference rooms, a fitness center, gathering spaces and study rooms. There is also a planned underground parking garage with 172 spaces, with access from Calder Way.
Among the businesses that were closed or displaced as a result of the development were George’s Floral Boutique, Eddie’s Bicycles and Hockey Equipment, and Pizza Mia’s State College location. However, there will be nearly 37,000 square feet of retail and office space on the bottom floors of the high-rise. Expect some detours downtown during construction.
5. Core Pugh Street Development
Who: Core Spaces (Chicago-based developer)
Where: 240 S. Pugh St.
When it will open: June 2024 (Construction to tentatively start in September 2022)
What it is: Say hello to more luxury student housing.
Core Spaces’ latest project will see the construction of a six-story, 172-unit apartment building that will carry studios to five-bedroom apartments. Based on early plans, it’s expected to be 65 feet tall with a fitness center and rooftop pool terrace. Despite the building being exceedingly large — wider than 200 feet at points — it will be made to look like multiple structures, with open space carved into it to make the building feel less oversized and cold. More than 200 parking spaces will be available underground for tenants.
The structure will replace Mad Mex Happy Valley, Days Inn by Wyndham Penn State and Brewsky’s Bottle Shop — all of which will be demolished. (Mad Mex already closed in late November; the other businesses are set to close next month.) There is no planned retail space in the new building.
