UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (Nov. 13) took steps to improve the on-campus housing and dining experience for students at University Park, and to provide for both current and future data storage and security needs for both University Park and Penn State Hershey.
The committee recommended the appointment of Clayco of St. Louis. They will retain DLA of Pittsburgh and Mackey Mitchell Architects of St. Louis to design the project.
Ford Stryker, associate vice president for the Office of Physical Plant, said it makes sense to start with construction of the new residence hall, because it will offset the loss of beds during the renovation of the other buildings, as well as increase the resident capacity at the end of the project. He said the plan is to match the amenities of renovated residence halls, with double rooms – the type with the highest demand – along with shared private bathrooms, lounge and study space and movable furniture.
The renovation plan calls for work on two buildings per year. The board will be asked to approve the plans for each of these renovations before construction begins.
In past board meetings on the topic, Gail Hurley, associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services, said, "Students and their families have expectations of college living that are much different now from what they were when our facilities were first built. Although location is still a major consideration in a student’s decision to live on or off campus, privacy, amenities and costs are other critical factors … monies must be earmarked for the systematic renewal of our facilities over and above deferred maintenance needs."
When the renovation to South Halls is completed in December of this year, only 27 percent of University Park's 13,600 spaces will be new or renovated since 1966, the year that East Halls was finished.
Data Center
The committee also recommended final plans and authorization to expend funds for the Data Center at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The $54 million project will be primarily funded by self-supported borrowing and reserves for capital improvement. The data center will help address the need for reliable, secure and robust data-center capacity. The Hershey center is one of two that Penn State plans to build. The other is at University Park.
"To protect the University’s data and continue business as usual in the event of a disaster, the Hershey data center will back up the University Park data center, and the University Park data center will back up the Hershey data center," Stryker said.
The 2012 Hershey Medical Center master plan identified a site near the intersection of Bullfrog Valley Road and Life Lion Drive for its data center. Plans for the University Park data center are expected to be presented to the Board of Trustees in March 2015.
Other action
In other action, the committee recommended:
-- Approval of additional funding for the HUB-Robeson Center addition and renovation project at University Park. If approved by the full board on Friday (Nov. 14), the University will be authorized to spend an additional $6.2 million above the originally authorized amount of $44.6 million, bringing the total authorized amount to $50.8 million. Funding will come from a combination of Student Facility Fees, HUB and Bookstore reserves, Food Services, energy and major maintenance. Construction of a 54,800-square-foot addition and 52,000-square-foot renovation to the HUB-Robeson Center began in May of 2013.
The HUB-Robeson Center is being expanded and renovated to enhance a variety of student-related activity and service spaces; to expand and organize retail operations; to modernize infrastructure systems; and to enhance the accessibility and architecture of the building from the east and HUB lawn sides.
Stryker said there were a significant number of unforeseen conditions associated with the existing building structure, foundations and other subsurface conditions that contributed to the cost increases. An unusually high amount of rain during 2014 delayed the work. Other factors included upgrading food-service equipment, expansion of support areas, upgrades in the building finishes and furniture, adding a café in the new Bookstore mezzanine, enhanced energy conservation measures, and enhancements to audio-visual, security and other building systems.
The current construction timetable would have various operations including the Penn State Bookstore, ID+ Office, Copy Center and student radio station move into their new or renovated spaces early in 2015, with the base project to be completed by May 2015.
-- Final plans and authorization to expend funds for the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex renovation at University Park to create class laboratory swing space, as designed by PJ Dick of Pittsburgh, Pa., at a cost of $10.3 million. Multiple University Park buildings housing science laboratories are being renovated as part of the University’s five-year capital renewal plan. In order to accommodate the academic and research needs of the University during this construction period, the University intends to renovate a portion of the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex to provide swing space for undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratories during the renovation of the Whitmore Building. The Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex was vacated after the construction of the Pegula Ice Arena.
-- The purchase of Delta Pointe Property, Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County. The University has the opportunity to acquire the property from Delta Commerce Park Developers LLC. The acquisition provides the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with strategic expansion opportunities. Located along the Route I-81 corridor in the Mechanicsburg-Harrisburg area, the 8.25-acre undeveloped site has been offered to the University for $1.5 million.
-- An extension of a development services agreement with the Research Park Management Corp. to manage, supervise and coordinate the development of Innovation Park at Penn State through Jan. 31, 2015. The action extends the 10-year agreement approved in November 2004. A longer extension of the contract will be considered at the January 2015 meeting of the board committee.
Informational items
The committee also learned about several other projects and actions, including:
-- Replacement of aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the Visual Arts Building at University Park, at an estimated cost of $3.5 million.
-- An energy-savings project for Agricultural Science and Industries Building at University Park. The University intends to implement energy conservation measures that could include upgrades to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, building envelope, lighting, and plumbing systems. The cost estimate for this project is $4.6 million.
-- An energy-savings project for Wartik Building at University Park, could include upgrades to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, building envelope, lighting and plumbing systems. The cost estimate for this project is $1.8 million.
-- Phase II of the Woodland Building renovations at Penn State Abington. Approximately 8,500 square feet is part of the project, including three classrooms on the second and third floors. In addition, one classroom on the first floor will be converted to a gallery. The existing east facade will be replaced with a new curtain-wall system and the roof above the classroom section will be replaced and some building system equipment upgraded. The project includes renovation of the existing plaza in front of the east wall. The cost estimate for this project is $3.5 million.
-- Equipment purchase for the University Park Computer Building. In order to provide reliable services for Institute of Cyberscience research that can be annually and incrementally enhanced, the University intends to purchase computer, data storage appliance, and network switching equipment. The Dell and Brocade equipment will be compatible with existing equipment and will be used to form a Penn State research cloud foundation. The cost estimate for this purchase is $4.96 million.
-- Purchase of property at 3040 W. Pine Grove Road, Ferguson Township, Centre County. In October, the University purchased the 88.94-acre property including a functional barn adjoining Penn State property from Peggy J. Deibler for $800,000. The purchase provides strategic expansion opportunities for the College of Agricultural Sciences and eliminates the possibility of adverse ownership.
Facilities upgrades such as those included above enable the University to offer the high-quality educational experience students expect, and also are a factor in drawing top faculty and students to Penn State. For more information, visit http://news.psu.edu/story/288347/2013/09/19/administration/capital-improvement-plan-about-more-bricks-and-mortar online.