Editor's note: The Penn State Board of Trustees voted to approve final plans and the expenditure of funds for Phase 2c of the East Halls renovations during its meeting on Nov. 11.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Final plan approval and expenditure of funds for Phase 2c of the East Halls renovations moved forward with a recommendation from the Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (Nov. 10). This is the sixth and final phase of the renovation and construction effort for the 16-building residential area, the largest residential community at University Park. It will go before the full board for approval on Nov. 11.
Phase 2c includes renovations of Hastings, Stone and Snyder halls, as well as associated site and utility work. Like in all previous phases, the three halls will receive new and efficient building systems; connection to the campus chilled water system for climate-controlled living spaces; improved social, residence life programming and meeting spaces; community kitchens; laundry rooms; and shared semi-private bathrooms in the core of each floor. Improvements to the building’s exterior and ADA accessibility, sidewalk and parking adjustments, outdoor recreational zones and refreshing native plantings and landscaping are also included in the project.
While the overall bed count across the three residence halls will remain close to the existing 775, there will be an increase in regular beds and a decrease in supplemental beds. Many residence hall rooms will continue to be double beds.
The total project budget for Phase 2c is $95.3 million, funded by self-supported borrowing and Housing and Food Service reserves. No tuition or state funds will be used for the project. The renovations will eliminate the entirety of the existing $26.9 million maintenance backlog of the three residence halls.
“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, 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.”
According to Cheryl Fabrizi, assistant vice president for Housing and Food Services, “These student experiential enhancements translate to a greater sense of community, belonging and overall student satisfaction.”
“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. These renovations also provide an additional 50 years of life for our largest residential complex at University Park,” Fabrizi said.
The multiphase East Halls capital project is part of the Housing and Food Services transformational renovation plan for the 60-year-old buildings. This project was launched in 2016 and was designed to address urgent needs due to aging facilities and infrastructure and to reflect the changing needs of today’s higher-education residential students. The project included the addition of two new residence halls, bringing the total number of residence halls in the East Halls complex to 16.
Upgrades to the existing facilities included air conditioning, shared semiprivate bathrooms, security and access upgrades, new windows, community kitchens, and community areas such as study lounges, collaboration spaces, music and presentation practice rooms, gaming spaces and additional meeting and social areas. Upgraded outdoor spaces were also a priority with enhancements to walkways, recreational zones, green spaces and gathering areas. The two newly added residence halls were designed to match the renovated buildings.
East Halls was initially constructed in the 1960s with 14 buildings, which were designed to be functional corridor-style traditional double residence hall rooms with community floor bathrooms. There were little to no community meeting spaces incorporated into the building plans.
Phase 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a of the East Halls renovation are complete and buildings are occupied. Phase 2b is on track to be finished for fall 2023 occupancy. Work on Phase 2c will begin May 2023 with expected completion in time for fall 2024 occupancy. Once the East Halls project is complete, it will provide 4,612 students in newly renovated residential spaces.