Penn State plans a $96 million classroom development at its main campus as nearly 1k more first-year students are expected
A trustees panel at Penn State University advanced plans Thursday for a $96 million classroom development at University Park to accommodate expected first-year enrollment growth approaching 1,000 students over the next several years.
The project is the largest of the planned work totaling almost $325 million on the main campus and at Penn State Harrisburg that went before the trustees Finance and Investment Committee for a vote.
Each was approved by the panel during Thursday's daylong committee meetings. The work now goes to a vote Friday afternoon before the full board of trustees at University Park.
The new classroom building near the Forest Resources and business buildings is projected to be finished by fall 2026. Trustee approval is being sought now to accommodate long lead equipment and material orders in advance of the final design, officials said
In recent months, Penn State has said it expects to increase first-year enrollment at University Park by 825 students in stages — a move that eventually could push University Park enrollment above 50,000 students for the first time in Penn State's nearly 170-year history.
It would be achieved by moving first-year enrollment toward 10,000 students across the next several admissions cycles.
Like a number of other prominent universities navigating a soft student market, Penn State has seen its fortunes diverge — branches are losing enrollment, but main campus demand remains strong. As the university has pared employee ranks across its 20 Commonwealth campuses , it is weighing the addition of faculty at University Park.
Pitt and its chancellor, Joan Gabel, are also planning for main campus expansion while working to reverse regional enrollment declines.
At Penn State, the new building will help with the expected space crunch.
"The building will contain large lecture halls, seminar-style and flexible seating, general purpose classrooms, which will be available to all colleges at University Park," said Tom Rodgers, interim associate vice president of facilities management and planning and the university's chief facilities officer. "The total seat count in the new building will be 2,200."
It is to be funded through educational and general fund reserves and borrowing, though members including committee Chair Mary Lee Schneider indicated there are potential naming opportunities that could reduce the price.
Among the other projects endorsed Thursday are:
• A new $91.1 million Applied Research Laboratory building with 80,000 square feet to be located within Innovation Park on the main campus;
• An 89.9 million renovation and expansion of the Sackett Building, which borders the southwest edge of Pattee Mall on the University Park campus and is part of the College of Engineering's ongoing facilities transformation;
• A $47 million academic learning center at Penn State Harrisburg, a 47,000-square-foot development that will support the campus's evolving academic programming and offer flexible learning spaces.
New housing for University Park
In addition, the finance and investment committee selected a developer to build a 1,500-bed affordable housing development to meet the needs of students attending the University Park campus.
Penn State plans to enter into a long-term ground lease with Greystar Development East, LLC, allowing it to lease land at University Drive and College Avenue, on the north side of campus.
The ground lease arrangement allows Penn State to maintain ownership of the land and stay focused on using housing revenues and reserves to renovate university-owned buildings, officials said.
They added that Greystar will deliver an affordable housing option for students that includes about 775 beds by fall 2027 with the balance by fall 2028.
