UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's capital plan will focus heavily on building renewal and major maintenance through the final years of the current plan, which ends in 2013, Al Horvath, senior vice president for finance and business, told the University's Board of Trustees Friday (Sept. 9).
In an update on the plan, Horvath said the education and general projects outlined for 2012-13 include capital renewal at all locations to address needs such as the replacement or upgrade of systems and utilities and other repairs for academic buildings.
Projects slated for construction at University Park include replacement of Henderson South, renovations of Cedar and Moore buildings, steam production modifications, a water treatment facility expansion and infrastructure improvements.
Other construction projects include renovation of Building 661 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, part of the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster energy innovation initiative, and an addition and renovation to Penn State Harrisburg's Educational Activities Building.
Projects expected to enter the design phase at University Park include a chemical engineering facility to replace Fenske Lab and replacement of outdated teaching and research greenhouses.
Planned projects in the housing and foods capital plan include major renovations and addition of beds to South Halls at University Park, additional student housing and dining hall renovations at Penn State Hazleton and necessary renovations to Port Sky Café at Penn State Altoona.
The student facility fee, introduced in 2008, will fund additions to the HUB-Robeson Center and Intramural Building, both of which are currently in design, as well as an addition to McCoy Natatorium.
Construction of Pegula Ice Arena and a lacrosse field are among the planned athletics capital projects for the next two years. No major construction projects are slated for Penn State Hershey through 2013, with construction of the Children's Hospital currently in progress and scheduled for completion in 2012.
Horvath also said the University will continue to invest in energy savings projects, which pay for themselves in 10 years or fewer. He added that because of the aging of facilities across the University, continued investments in major maintenance are needed for repairs such as roofs, heating, ventilating and air conditioning. The University has a maintenance backlog of more than $1 billion and more than half of all of its space is more than 40 years old.
Planned capital projects total approximately $900 million.
Trustees also received information on Penn State's proposed capital budget request to the Commonwealth for 2012-13. The University is requesting $187.6 million for its capital renewal projects at all campuses and the development of a business continuity data center for use in the event of a catastrophic loss of computer data and systems at the University Park campus.