Penn State’s Board of Trustees on Friday unanimously approved plans for a $28 million expansion and renovation of the Nursing Sciences Building along East College Avenue.
The project will include a one-level, 2,700-square foot addition along with various renovations to about 25,000-square-feet of space in the existing, 44-year-old building, which is home to the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing.
“This renovation project will enhance our teaching and learning spaces by creating truly collaborative, experiential learning environments,” Laurie Badzek, dean of the College of Nursing, said in a statement. “As a premier educator of pre-licensure nurses across the commonwealth, this upgrade to our building at University Park will ensure the next generation of nurses are confident in their skills and will have experienced a nursing education that mirrors the needs of the profession.”
The 30-feet tall addition, designed by architect SLAM Collaborative, will be constructed on the northwest side facing the HUB-Robeson Center. It will have a large “active learning, simulation-ready classroom” for up to 180 people and which can be divided into multiple spaces, as well as open knowledge commons space, according to the university.
Built in 1979 as the Human Development East Building, the original three-story facility was renamed the Nursing Sciences Building in 2015 and underwent minor renovations, including the addition of a new main entrance, in 2017.
Upcoming renovations to the original building will include replacement of the facade to match the main entrance and to correct water intrusion issues.
The exterior work will install new cladding, including brick masonry veneer and spandrel glass, Mark Saville, of project engineer Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, told State College Planning Commission during an overview of the preliminary land development plan in October.
“The purpose behind that is about improving the energy performance of the building and the fenestrations for that building so that it’s there for the next 50 years as a more energy efficient building,” Saville said at the time.
Other renovation work will include replacement of HVAC systems and inefficient lighting. Some spaces will receive “light touch-ups,” while others will be “fully renewed,” according to the university.
The renovations are expected to eliminate about $12 million in maintenance backlog costs.
Project funding will include approximately $10 million in philanthropic gifts. Preliminary work is scheduled to begin over the winter and spring, with primary construction getting underway in summer 2024. Construction will not impact College Avenue, Saville said in October.
