Campus Life

Extensive construction planned for campus this summer

This map shows various ongoing and upcoming OPP projects on campus.  Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Extensive construction and renovation projects will swing into full operation on Monday, May 12, impacting traffic, transit and parking for much of the campus community.  

The Office of Physical Plant and Columbia Gas plan to maximize the summer drop in Penn State's student population to move forward with many important projects. The Office of Physical Plant, the Parking Office and project contractors will work to minimize disruption to the campus community, but the public should expect many temporary route changes and interruptions throughout the summer.

Columbia Gas Line ProjectIn order to meet new federal emissions mandates, Penn State is converting the West Campus Steam Plant from coal burning to a natural gas fueled plant. This conversion will cut emissions by 37 percent and allow Penn State to co-generate additional electricity and reduce the need to purchase it from distant sources. The Columbia Gas pipeline project will close Curtin Road from Burrowes Road to the Forum Building from Monday, May 12, through Friday, Aug. 1.Access to the ADA parking spaces just east of Pattee and Paterno libraries will be unavailable from Monday, May 12, through Thursday, June12. Permit holders who normally use these spaces are directed to park at Lot Brown E (between Pattee and West Halls) or Lot Brown B (Chandlee Lab).

Lot Yellow L at Weaver Building will be closed from Monday, May 12, through Friday, Aug. 1. Yellow L permits will be valid at the Nittany, East and Eisenhower parking decks.Old Main Lot RebuildThe Old Main parking lot is being reconfigured to increase green space and provide more efficient parking. It will be closed from Monday, May 12, through Friday, Aug. 1. Parking will be relocated to the section of Lot Brown A behind Willard Building. This section of Brown A will be reserved for the following:ROO permit holders assigned to Old MainADA parkingReserved spaces for Media Tech

Drop-off for Old Main employees and guests will be available at the Pollock Road East and Pollock Road West kiosk booths.

The Brown A Willard meters will remain available for use unless they are reserved for Old Main guest parking.Brown A permits will be valid in Lot Red A, the Nittany Deck and the Eisenhower Deck from Monday, May 12, through Friday, Aug. 1.Lot Red A Rebuild at Engineering ServicesThe section of Lot Red A at Engineering Services will be closed from Monday, May 12, through Friday, Aug. 15.  Adequate parking for Red A permit holders will be available in the remaining sections of Lot Red A.Pollock Road Closing for Burrowes Building Utility WorkThe Burrowes Building is currently undergoing a full renovation that will continue through 2015.  From Monday, May 12, through Monday, May 26, utility work related to these renovations will close Pollock Road near the Schwab Auditorium. This section of Pollock Road will be restricted to authorized vehicles only through Friday, Aug. 15.HUB/HUB Deck RenovationsThe HUB Addition project will continue through the summer and will be completed in May 2015. It will create more student leadership space and increase seating in expanded student gathering areas as well as improve retail spaces. As part of the ongoing renovations to the HUB, the plaza level of the HUB Parking Deck will be closed from Monday, May 12, through Tuesday, July 1. Vehicle entry and exit will available only via the lower entrance to the HUB Deck.During this time, the following restrictions will be in place at the HUB Deck:Only YC permits will be authorized to park in the HUB Deck from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.Beginning at 4 p.m. on weekdays, all other faculty/staff permits, as well as all student permits, are valid for parking at the HUB Deck.Hourly visitor parking will not be available at the HUB Deck. Visitors should be directed to the East Parking Deck where hourly visitor parking will be available at the standard $1 per hour rate. From 2 to 4 a.m. every day, vehicles must be displaying a valid faculty/staff permit in order to park at the HUB Deck.

Parking will be open to all faculty/staff and student permit holders, and visitors on Saturdays and Sundays (faculty/staff permits only from 2 to 4 a.m.)McKean Road closing for East Campus Steam Line ProjectWork related to the East Campus steam line project will close a section of McKean Road from the East Area Lockers to Bigler Road from Monday, May 12, through Thursday, Oct. 30. Approximately 35 spaces will be unavailable for parking in Lot 42 at Nittany Apartments during this time. Adequate parking for permit holders should be available in the remainder of the lot.Curtin Road Closing for Beaver Stadium Scoreboard ProjectNew energy efficient L.E.D. (light emitting diode) scoreboards and outside signage are being installed at Beaver Stadium. The project will be completed this summer well in advance of the fall football season. Curtin Road will be closed between Beaver Stadium and Porter Road from Monday, May 12, through Monday, June 30. The detour route will take vehicles north on University Drive and east on Park Avenue to reach Porter Road.Bryce Jordan Center RenovationsThe Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) is currently undergoing renovations to the arena floor, roof and concourse areas that will continue through Sunday, July 20. The State College Area High School’s June graduation ceremony has been moved to the Pegula Ice Arena and the Central PA 4th Fest in July will continue outside the BJC with limited access to building. The BJC will be closed for the summer (except for office areas) and will reopen for summer commencement on Aug. 16.Parking spaces will be blocked for construction staging in Orange L South and Lot 44, but adequate parking will remain for permit holders.Transit Impacts – through AugustDue to construction, CATA will close five transit stops on Burrowes Road and Curtin Road, and three stops on Allen Road beginning Monday, May 12. Temporary stops will be located on Atherton Street and Park Avenue and will be used by both CATA and the Campus Shuttle.Beginning Monday, May 12, Campus Shuttle stops 10 to 14 will be closed. Stop 9 will be moved to the corner of College Avenue and Burrowes Road, while stop 15 will be moved to Park Avenue just west of Shortlidge Road.The Hershey Shuttle stop will be relocated to the stop at Thomas Building beginning Monday, May 12.Additional InformationConstruction updates will be provided throughout the summer. Please be patient and follow the detour signage which will be provided on location. Also allow extra time to reach any campus destination this summer due to the extensive improvements which will be under way.

For more information, go to http://www.opp.psu.edu/planning-construction/Documents/ConstructionProject.

Last Updated June 18, 2021