Board Of Trustees Act On Building Plans
January 21, 2000
University Park, Pa. — Penn State’s Board of Trustees today (Jan. 21) authorized University officers to obtain bids and award contracts for construction of an outdoor running track and field for men’s and women’s track and soccer teams at Penn State Altoona. The $725,000 project will enable the campus to meet the NCAA requirements for Division III schools. The project has been designed by the Office of Physical Plant in conjunction with Stephen Parks and Associates of Altoona.

The Board also gave authorization to obtain bids and award contracts for a new parking lot at Penn State Dubois. In September, Penn State DuBois acquired three properties to address parking needs and since that time the City of DuBois has enacted an ordinance banning on-street parking for non-residents -- advancing the need to build the 225-space lot. The project, designed by the Office of Physical Plant in conjunction with Lee Simpson and Associates of DuBois, is projected to cost $1,800,000, including lighting, landscaping and storm water management controls. The design includes the potential to add additional spaces by constructing decks in the future.

Preliminary plans to construct new student housing on the east end of campus at Penn State Harrisburg were reviewed at the July 1999 Board meeting. Today the Board gave authorization to obtain bids and award contracts for the first phase of project, which is expected to cost $16,500,000.

Designed by Weber Murphy Fox of Erie, phase I will consist of 70 four-bedroom apartments for 280 students, four resident assistant units, 40 family apartments for a total of 494 occupants. It also includes a community building, and a parking lot. Phase II will include 52 four-bedroom apartments to house 208 students and two resident assistants units.

In other Board action:

-- The board approved a revision to the agreement to purchase Rider II building on West Beaver Avenue that they had approved at their May 1999 meeting. At the request of the current owners, Charles and Jeanne J. Rider, the University will make the $4,000,000 purchase on or before the lease expiration date of Nov. 15, 2006 instead of after that date.

-- It also approved the sale of the undeveloped 1.4 acre property just outside Kennett Square in Chester County, which was donated to the University by A. Duer Pierce in July 1999. The purchase price of $79,900 will fund the Bud Pierce Men’s Lacrosse Scholarship at University Park.

-- And the Board agreed to lease .625 acres of land on Juniata Gap Road to Lexington One, Inc. a subsidiary of the Altoona Hospital, for the construction of a building to be known as the Sheetz Family Health Center. The center will house the University’s Nursing Program and the Student Wellness Center at Penn State Altoona.

According to the 25-year agreement, 8,500 square feet of the 11,000 square foot building will be leased back to the University at a consideration of $1 per year. The remaining 2,500 square feet will be occupied by Blair Medical Associates for a primary care practice. At the end of the agreement, all improvements and the property will revert to the University.

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Contact: Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 or e-mail at