Administration

Trustees approve Penn State Altoona Adler Athletic Complex project

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Board of Trustees on Friday (Nov. 20) approved final plans for the Adler Athletic Complex Renovation and Addition at Penn State Altoona and authorized the expenditure of $24.5 million on the project to support intramural and Division III athletic programs, as well as a new kinesiology program.

The Steven A. Adler Athletic Complex, constructed in 1972, consisted of a gymnasium and locker rooms, with additional locker rooms, racquetball courts, swimming pool and a multipurpose room added in 1978. At that time, Penn State Altoona’s enrollment was approximately 2,000 students, with about 300 housed on campus in two residence halls. Today, enrollment has doubled to approximately 4,000 students, with more than 900 living on campus in four residence halls. In addition, there are over 1,000 students residing in off-campus housing in close proximity to campus. Without any significant renovations since the ’70s, the current Adler Athletic Complex is not sufficient to meet the needs of the campus and community.

The primary uses of a renovated and expanded Adler Athletic Complex will be to support NCAA Division III athletic programs; intramurals and recreation programs; kinesiology classes; ROTC; fitness area; weight training; additional team locker rooms; coaches and officials locker rooms; trainer’s area; coaches offices; athletics administrative suite; faculty offices; the Distinguished Speaker Series; major student events (e.g. concerts); and community events.

The focus of the expansion will be the addition of a new gymnasium with sufficient space and bleacher seating for 2,200 people. Floor seating will allow for a maximum of 2,500 people. Another building addition will house a new fitness and weight training area, as well as a new expanded lobby for better circulation and a new office suite for athletics administration and faculty.  Finally, a third addition will house faculty offices, classrooms and laboratory space for a new kinesiology degree program.

“The addition of the varsity locker rooms and other team space will allow our college to support the teams at a higher level, including hosting tournaments and recruiting highly skilled athletes,” said Brent Baird, director of athletics for the campus. “The additional training room higher quality services for student-athlete care, including rehabilitation activities and injury evaluation.”

The kinesiology wing will include four classrooms, four research laboratories and seven offices designated for offering two kinesiology majors: movement science and exercise science.

“I am thrilled that our Adler Athletic Complex addition and renovation is finally coming to fruition. Our students deserve to have top-notch facilities and this project will provide much needed recreation, exercise and hangout space for them,” said Penn State Altoona Chancellor and Dean Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry. “I am particularly proud of our student leaders who have been banking a portion of their student facilities fee for the past several years to ensure this project could happen. Many of the students who have supported this project have graduated or will graduate in the next two years and will not be here to enjoy the benefits of the addition and renovation; however, they believed in the importance of paying it forward so that future students would benefit. I thank them for their foresight and selflessness.”

Construction is scheduled to begin December 2015 and be complete in two years. Funding sources are a combination of state support, student facilities fees, Facilities Resources Committee; University Access Committee; President’s Facility Initiative; and other campus funds. Plans for the project were designed by Weber Murphy Fox of Erie, Pennsylvania. 

Last Updated November 20, 2015

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