The new pavilion, as well as the plaza and landscaping that was recently completed in front of the Laboratory Classroom and General Classroom Buildings, cost Penn State nearly $1 million.
Earlier in the semester, contractors for Penn State Beaver finished building the white, metal-and-wood pavilion –a project that has been in the works for several years.
According to a news article on the Penn State Beaver website, “The pavilion is available for outdoor classroom use, student events, or a place to relax or study.”
The idea for the pavilion came from the late Donna Kuga, a longtime director of academic affairs and interim chancellor, and was built in honor of her passion for the Beaver campus and as a tribute to her as a person, said Adam Rathbun, director of business and finance. Penn State’s Office of Campus Planning and Design contributed to the final design concept.
The project started late last summer with the construction of the plaza. Work on the pavilion didn’t start until this spring after the campus was shut down due to the coronavirus, Rathbun said.
Rathbun said that the pavilion cost $305,500. The plaza, including sidewalks; electrical work; and new landscaping, cost about $650,000, he added.
Kuga’s family donated a portion of the cost of the pavilion. The campus Student Facility Fee committee and the Penn State Beaver Alumni Society each contributed $100,000. The remaining cost was paid from Central University Beautification and maintenance funds, not the campus budget, Rathbun said.
Three round picnic tables have been placed under the pavilion, and occasionally students are seen sitting there between classes.
Several students on campus expressed that they think the nearly $1 million spent on the pavilion could have been used either towards new classrooms or the gym.
Sophomore Desiree Aponte said that the pavilion is pretty but not a necessity. “The money could have been used for new floors in the gym, something that people actually use.”
Another campus improvement project that varsity baseball players may like is a renovation to the baseball field. Plans call for a total reconstruction in the infield and a replacement for the backstop, Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said. So far, the existing backstop and some fencing have been removed to start the work.
The $80,000 project will be paid for by Student Activity Fee funds, which come from the additional fee students pay with their tuition. Kirschner said that future plans in athletics include upgrading the infield surface on the softball field.
Senior Justin Francona, captain of the baseball team, said that the money being spent on the baseball field for reconstruction is vital for the team’s up-and-coming season and he hopes to see the outfield get the necessary remodeling it needs soon.
Looking forward, Rathbun said that the General Classroom Building will be renovated starting next semester, along with classroom improvements in the Laboratory Classroom Building and a new roof being added to a portion of the gym.