Architect Appointed For New Athletic Facilities

5-16-97
University Park, Pa. -- As part of the five-year capital spending program announced on Wednesday, May 13, Penn State is moving ahead with the development of several construction projects for intercollegiate athletics this year that will be paid for with University funds and private gifts.

In order to ensure that these projects are completed in a time frame consistent with athletic needs, the Board of Trustees today (May 16) approved the appointment of architects who will design and oversee the projects.

"Intercollegiate Athletics recently completed a master plan to identify deficiencies in their competition facilities and identified three areas of need -- the indoor track, the Louis E. Lasch Football Building and the locker facilities for other sports," said Gary Schultz, senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer.

The existing indoor track, in the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex fieldhouse, does not meet the standard for NCAA tournament competition and the structure would require a substantial investment to stabilize it and correct an existing liability caused by sliding snow.

The new facility to be located near the outdoor track on Porter Road will have at least a 220-meter track with spectator seating and amenities. It will also have support spaces such as locker rooms, a training room, a weight training room and storage and will serve both the new indoor and the existing outdoor tracks.

The existing fieldhouse of the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex will be demolished to make way for the new Louis E. Lasch Football Building to be located adjacent to the outdoor practice fields and close to Holuba Hall. The building will include locker facilities, equipment room, coaches' offices, a training and rehab area, meeting rooms, academic support areas, a team lounge, video rooms and storage. Additional parking will be provided at both the north and south sides of the new facility.

Part of the remaining Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex will be renovated with the new construction and a new public entrance for visitors will be located on the south side of the building.

The existing Lasch Building, formerly called East Area Locker Room, will be renovated to provide a multi-sport activity building and include locker rooms, a weight training room, training and rehab rooms, academic support areas, equipment storage and an athlete's lounge for several women's and men's sports.

This renovation will not only meet the needs of several sports, it will aid in meeting gender equity issues required by Title IX.

The Board approved the appointment Hoffman-Popovich of Boalesburg and NBBJ of Columbus, Ohio, to design and oversee construction for the indoor track, and L.D.Astorino from Pittsburgh and HOK from Kansas City, Mo. to design and oversee construction of the new and renovated football training facilities.

The board also approved the appointment of Susan Maxman Architects of Philadelphia to design and oversee construction of two residence halls at the Berks Campus, which are also part of the 1997-98 Capital plan and will be constructed with University funds.

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Contacts:

Alan Janesch (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 867-3621 (home) axj12@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 237-9046 (home) cmr7@psu.edu