Photo Courtesy of CBICC
Jan. 28, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Deputy AD & COO Phil Esten today updated more than 100 members of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) on ICA's strategic plan and facilities master planning process.
Esten said that Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics' leadership-driven strategic plan should be completed in March. The process began last June.
Penn State's comprehensive facilities master planning study began last October and should be completed in July, Esten stated. Intercollegiate Athletics is working with Populous on the project, which encompasses approximately 20 athletic facilities and 300 acres on the University Park campus.
More than 1,000 people have been engaged and provided feedback during the wide-ranging strategic planning project, that will help determine priorities for the period of 2016-20 and beyond for the Nittany Lions' comprehensive 31-sport program.
Esten said that two facilities projects are underway -- the Morgan Academic Center and the Lasch Football Building -- and that fund raising is taking place for upgrades to the Penn State Lacrosse Field. The Lasch Building and lacrosse facility renovations are to be completely financed through private gifts.
"The Morgan Academic Center project will allow us to centralize all of our academic services," Esten said of the renovation of the former Greenberg Ice Pavilion. The project is slated for completion by prior to the start of the fall semester.
Populous has met with approximately 70 different groups over the past four months about the short and long term facilities needs for Penn State Athletics. "There is nobody who does it better than Populous," said Esten.
McCoy Natatorium and the Nittany Lion Outdoor Track were among the facilities Esten mentioned in greatest need of attention.
While the facilities master planning study involves all of Penn State's competition and training facilities and office space, Esten acknowledged that Beaver Stadium garners the greatest interest from the public. Using Beaver Stadium, and other athletic facilities, for non-traditional events is among the topics included in the study.
"Our desire and inclination is to renovate Beaver Stadium," Esten stated in regard to one of the most frequently asked questions by alumni, student and fans. "We view all of our facilities as assets. `How can that asset be used for more than a football game, more than a soccer match (Jeffrey Field)?' We are interested and open to doing some other things in Beaver Stadium and all our facilities."
Esten concluded the presentation by taking questions from the CBICC membership.
Penn State offers one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 800 student-athletes, who have an 88 percent NCAA Graduation Success Rate and have won 75 national championships and 93 Big Ten titles all-time.