Penn State athletics seeks approval for new practice bubble, Beaver Stadium renovation funds, Lasch upgrades, more

A big week is on tap for Dr. Patrick Kraft and the Penn State athletic department that he leads. The second-year Director of Athletics will present numerous proposals to the university’s Board of Trustees’ Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning for approval next Thursday. If approved, and then signed off on by the full Board of Trustees next Friday, numerous Nittany Lions sports teams will have big things to look forward to.

The committee’s agenda has 12 action items. The first six pertain to athletics. Kraft, university Vice President for Facilities Management and Planning & Chief Facilities Bill Sitzabee, and Senior Vice President for Finance & Business/Treasurer Sara F. Thorndike, will ask for the following proposed projects to be approved:

• Greenberg Indoor Sports Center Training Table Renovation and Addition
• Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex Renovation and Addition
• Indoor Practice Air Supported Structure (otherwise known as a bubble)
• East Area Locker Room Renovation
• Lasch Renovation Phase 2

Kraft and co., also seek authorization to expend funds to begin a renovation of Beaver Stadium. As BWI’s Nate Bauer reported last week, the athletic department is set to unveil its plan to start making changes to the iconic 107,000-seat venue. It will happen in phases, and the aforementioned requested money would help accomplish the first of those.

More: PSU to present first phase of Beaver Stadium renovation for Board of Trustees approval

“The project will primarily focus on the west side of the stadium, including a complete demolition of the current stands and the press box,” Bauer wrote. “In its place, the proposal is for a rebuild with new stands, including expanded chair back seating on its lower level, as well as luxury amenities, suites, and loge boxes. Additionally, space for press seating and media amenities will be included.

“Those changes will be the most dramatic and visible from within Beaver Stadium. However, sources have also confirmed that a significant portion of the project’s overall budget is intended to improve other parts of the stadium.”

The project is not to exceed $70 million.

Taking a closer look at what Penn State athletics is requesting

First things first: As of Friday morning, none of these projects have a timeline for completion. But, Penn State athletics will want to move quickly once it gains board approval, which is expected.

Let’s start with the Lasch Building project. Penn State football has a new weight room and other fresh amenities on the first floor of its main headquarters. That was completed in phase one last year. Now, Phase 2 will focus on the upstairs.

“The project is an addition and renovation to the Lasch Football Building, occurring in multiple phases,” the project’s description says. “Phase 1 of the project, completed in 2021, included an addition to the weight room and entry experience and a renovation of the existing sports medicine area.

“The second phase of the project, represented in this proposal package, is a renovation of the second-floor office space, including demolition, enclosure work, MEP systems, graphics, and interior finishes.”

It’s all part of bringing the facility up to date. And, it will add new amenities for staff and players that will also help in recruiting. The cost is not to exceed $22 million.

As for the practice bubble, it will be built in the area around Jeffrey Field. It would be a boon for the football program, which currently shares Holuba Hall with Penn State Olympic sports. In addition, the work at Greenberg, Jeffrey Field, and the East Area locker rooms will help those programs, too. The cost is not to exceed $9.8 million.