Board also approves property purchase at Penn State Berks
University Park, Pa. -- The Penn State Board of Trustees on Nov. 19 commissioned the team of Payette Associates of Boston and Array Healthcare Facilities Solutions of King of Prussia, Pa. to develop plans for the new Penn State Cancer Institute at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
The board also approved a new campus master plan for Penn State Shenango and the purchase of property adjoining the Penn State Berks campus.
The Penn State Cancer Institute is a partnership of institutions dedicated to enhancing cancer services throughout central Pennsylvania. Through this partnership, the benefits of cancer research and education at Penn State's College of Medicine reach not only patients at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, but also the Institute's other members; the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network in Allentown and Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College.
The design team also will design a linear acceleration and gamma knife building, which well house radiation oncology, as well as a parking garage as part of the architectural plans for the Penn State Cancer Institute.
The master plan for Shenango, which is located in the City of Sharon, was developed with five primary goals: to improve pedestrian safety on and around campus; refine vehicular circulation and parking; accommodate potential student enrollment growth; address needs for student activity and recreation space; and strengthen visibility of the campus while improving its aesthetic qualities.
"This campus plan does not recommend growth," said Gordon Turow, director of campus planning and design, in a presentation to the board. "However, it offers recommendations to accommodate potential growth and to improve the quality of the campus in the future."
The plan proposes the permanent closure of a portion of Shenango Avenue to create new green space in the center of campus and improve pedestrian safety. The plan also includes new and reconfigured parking facilities on the edges of the campus.
Citing a lack of faculty offices, student activity and recreation space and classrooms and labs that meet the standards of other Penn State campuses, Turow noted that plans are being developed to renovate the Sharon Hall, Auditorium and Lecture Hall complex.
Additionally, the plan identifies opportunities for two new buildings in the future including a gymnasium and additional athletic and recreation space and a facility for new academic and workforce development programs. The new facilities would require the demolition of three small, inefficient buildings that are in need of extensive renovations.
To improve the campus aesthetics, the plan also suggested opportunities to create new gateways at the campus edges. The renovation of Sharon Hall will provide an improved outdoor plaza at the building's entrance.
For Penn State Berks, the board approved the acquisition of 17.41 acres of adjoining property from the Spring Ridge Land Development Company, L.L.P. The undeveloped property, located on Spring Ridge Drive in Spring Township, was offered to the University as a bargain sale acquisition for $1.64 million.