York, Pa. -- Members of the state Legislature, University, campus and community will take part in a ceremonial groundbreaking for an $11.9 million Penn State York building at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the campus.
The building will feature a new library and performing arts center. It is being constructed with state funding through the Department of General Services in Harrisburg. The 68,759-gross-square-foot building is scheduled for completion in fall 2005.
State Reps. Steve R. Nickol and Stephen H. Stetler will take part in the ceremony. Diane Disney, dean of the Commonwealth College, will speak, along with Jody Keller, chairperson of the Penn State York Advisory Board; Bob Pullo, representing the York community; and John H. Brenner, mayor of York.
The library portion of the facility will be two separate levels and include spaces such as group study rooms, stack space, instructional space and special collections rooms. The auditorium will have seating for 1,000 and will offer full theater capabilities. This section of the building also will house art classroom space and offer programming flexibility. The new facility also will provide seven classrooms.
These two major areas of the building will be joined with a connecting lobby area. Plans call for a coffee bar to be located there as well. The architectural firm Murphy and Dittenhafer of York is the design professional for the project.