Here’s a look at Penn State’s ongoing construction projects, and what’s next
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jeffrey Field opened after a $21.25 million upgrade that began in Aug 2024.
- East Classroom is a 84,000-square-foot building expected to open for fall classes.
- Beaver Stadium is set to finish before the 2027 season
Construction projects continue to progress at Penn State, and visitors in town for this weekend’s Blue-White Practice may notice that things look different around campus — and not just at Beaver Stadium.
Some of the projects are nearing completion while others are scheduled to open as soon as this fall. New projects are gearing up to start after the spring semester ends.
Here’s a closer look at how some of the university’s top priority projects are advancing:
Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex
The Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex underwent a full upgrade with improved and added infrastructure and is now open. The $21.25 million project was approved in May 2023 and began construction in August 2024.
The complex includes a new soccer operations facility, which is a brand-new building next to the field that centralizes everything for the men’s and women’s teams such as home and visiting lockers, training and rehab areas, team meeting rooms, coaches’ offices and team spaces.
The stadium was renovated and includes indoor restrooms, concession stands, entry plazas and other fan-focused spaces. It also improved venue infrastructure such as parking and entryways.
New classroom building
The East Classroom Building will serve as a general purpose classroom facility near the intersection of Park Avenue and Bigler Road. It is expected to open for classes in the fall, a spokesperson for the Penn State Office of Physical Plant said.
The 84,000-square-foot building will add “much-needed” large classrooms ranging from 150-400 seats each, summing capacity for 2,200 seats. It will also include seating areas for students in between classes and study spaces.
“Large classrooms are needed to support the General Education class requirements for increasing enrollment,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.
The board of trustees approved the $96 million project in November 2024.
Sackett Building
The Sackett Building underwent demolition work last year and is now approximately one third of the way complete, with work continuing through August 2027. The project includes a full renovation of the original building, replacement of the building’s two wings and exterior site work, which includes new accessible pedestrian routes, a spokesperson for the Penn State office of physical plant said.
It will also include 12 general purpose classrooms and a number of administrative offices.
This $89.9 million project was approved by the board in November 2024 and is part of the COE’s ongoing facilities transformation.
The university still anticipates the future demolition of the next-door Hammond Building, which requires approval by the board of trustees. The building is included in the university’s “Master Plan” for the College of Engineering, which seeks to modernize and expand facilities at the college, according to their website.
Osmond Lab
In an effort to strengthen Penn State’s Physics Department’s research and teaching capabilities, the trustees approved a 48,000-square-foot addition north of Osmond Lab in February 2024.
The $115 million total project is on track to be completed in the fall, with anticipated occupancy in the Spring 2027 semester, a spokesperson for the Penn State office of physical plant said.
Key features include new state-of-the-art research labs, a high-bay research facility for large-scale instrument assembly and testing and collaborative spaces, as well as renovated lecture halls in the existing Osmond Building, which have already been completed.
Residence halls
As part of the university’s multi-year housing renovation plan, construction has been taking place at the Pollock residence halls complex where East Halls was completed in 2024. The first buildings to be completely redone are Ritner and Wolf, which are expected to open for this fall semester, a spokesperson for the Penn State office of physical plant said.
The project will modernize the 1960s buildings with new rooms, bathrooms and support spaces, while replacing building systems and improving parking, landscaping and accessibility to support move-in and move-out operations.
Construction on Hiester and Shulze Halls is expected to start in May with plans to reopen for the fall 2027 semester.
Upcoming is McKee Hall, located in the West Halls area, where construction to upgrade bathrooms and convert underutilized spaces into additional beds began in December. Officials say the project is scheduled to be completed in August.
Boucke Building
The Boucke Building, an academic and administrative building located near the central campus core, was built in 1955 and will undergo a targeted renovation that includes upgrading the HVAC system and replacing all original single-pane windows. Construction is scheduled to begin in May and is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
This $19.4 million renovation seeks to replace many of the building’s systems, which officials have said were long overdue.
Beaver Stadium
Penn State’s largest project, the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation continues with ongoing steel and concrete installation on the west side of the stadium, a spokesperson for the Penn State office of physical plant said.
The project includes a 21,000-square-foot welcome center, expanded concourses and improved circulation, along with new restrooms and upgraded concession stands. It also adds premium seating, improved field lighting, and upgrades that will allow the stadium to host year-round events and entertainment.
Upcoming work includes sports lighting and window installations, both scheduled to begin later this summer. The project remains on track for completion before the 2027 football season.
Visitors attending Blue-White weekend are encouraged to check Penn State Transportation Services and Penn State Athletics social media for the latest parking and stadium access updates.
