By: Laura Wilson, Lions Eye Staff Writer, lcw5189@psu.edu
As part of the on-going Penn State Brandywine expansion, which began with residence life in Orchard Hall and a Student Union, the Commons/Athletic Center has received a makeover. The Commons renovation was started in late May 2018 and completed late in September 2018. These renovations have added many new additions to the campus. According to Brandywine’s website, “The project cost $3.4 million dollars, which was funded by campus donors, match funding from University Park, the Brandywine Student Facilities Committee and Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant.”
The completion of the Commons building has brought many new and improved amenities to Penn State Brandywine. “These include a new commuter lounge, nurse’s station, athletic training room, a new police services office and an expanded, state-of-the-art fitness center,” according to Brandywine’s website.
The renovations benefit many different areas on campus. One of the larger programs it will benefit is the athletics programs. The new fitness center and athletic training room are two of the perks of these renovations.
“A lot of our student athletes didn’t work out here on campus because it was so condensed in years past, so the fitness center is going to be tripled in size. We are also getting over $100,000 worth of new equipment. The athletic training room will also triple in size. One of the biggest changes is that we are getting air conditioning in the gym,” said Athletic Director Sarah Kurpel.
The process did not come without some hardships. Although most of the work was scheduled for the summer months, many professors, coaches and athletes were displaced during the renovations. They found temporary offices throughout campus.
“One of the biggest problems was that it displaced all of us and specifically the students,” said Kurpel. Athletes who were around in the summer were unable to train or work out while the gym was closed and, “Since the gym was not available, the volleyball team had to practice off campus.”
The new renovations may have presented some obstacles, but go see for yourself if the craziness was worth it.