Penn State Abington Master Plan 2007

For a complete report on the Penn State Abington Master Plan, please click here.

Current Priorities

 
    The master plan is composed of 3 maps.  The first is Current Priorities, which illustrates opportunities that are currently in the University’s Capital Plan, as well as reasonable opportunities that may be funded by the campus.

    To improve the first impressions of campus, the plan suggests enhancing the landscape buffer to screen surface parking lots, adding landscaping at Woodland Building adjacent to the parking deck, and screening the service area on Woodland Road.

    The plan also suggests enhancing two existing outdoor gathering spaces.  These include the area in front of Sutherland Building (create a central gathering space to include the Lion Shrine ) and the Woodland Building terrace (reduce paving and add landscaping).

    Current Priorities include working with the Township to improve the pedestrian crossing at Cloverly Lane and Woodland Road, and to improve the sidewalks on Woodland Road (from Route 611 to Cloverly Lane) to encourage walking to and from campus.   

Current Priorities also include additional strategic goals.  They are:

• Identify off-campus housing opportunities for student rental for 200 international and out-of-state students (shuttle with transport; no additional cars on campus).
• Explore opportunities to increase off-campus parking inventory via master leasing and support with expanded shuttle service (existing = about 150 spaces)
• Establish a new parking program to improve its efficiency and effectiveness
• Work with Township to improve sidewalks along Woodland Road from Rt. 611 to Cloverly Lane

Future Opportunities

   
    The second map is Future Opportunities.  It illustrates the next generation of key facility enhancements that are beyond the current Capital Plan and support the campus’ academic vision.  Timeframes for planning are not precise.  Accordingly, these opportunities do not have a predictable time frame, but we generally think of Future Opportunities covering a 20-25 years.

    Future Opportunities may include renovating and expanding Woodland to create a Science / IST / Engineering building.  A 3-story 35,000 - 50,000 square foot building addition and a 25,000 - 30,000 square foot renovation would re-define the first impressions of the Abington campus.  The building would accommodate classrooms, a lecture hall, labs, offices, and a library expansion.  The project would necessitate the removal of some existing parking in front of Woodland Building and the relocation of the loading dock and dumpsters, which would also serve to enhance the first view of campus.

    A 10,000 - 20,000 square foot addition and renovation of the existing Physical Education Building could accommodate new training rooms, locker rooms, fitness facilities, and offices; and would improve the buildings exterior.

    Future Opportunities may include a new 100,000 square foot library and performing arts center similar to the program and civic collaboration at the York campus. 

    Improvements to Sutherland Building could also be considered.   The basement could be renovated to create theatre storage, a fitness center, and a student lounge.  A new main entrance would improve accessibility and safety.

    Developing a strategy to manage traffic circulation and parking is important to the master plan.  There are currently 8 vehicular entrances to campus, which generate traffic on neighborhood roads.  Accordingly, Future Opportunities could include removing 3 campus entrances, creating a more efficient entrance on Cloverly Lane, and reconfiguring the entrance from Woodland Road.  New internal routes will connect existing parking lots on campus, and provide access to a new 4-level deck with about 460 spaces.  As a result, impervious area would be reduced, parking would be increased, and vehicular circulation would be improved on and around campus.

Long-Term Possibilities

 
    The third map is Long-Term Possibilities, which illustrates a vision for the campus that may be decades in the future.  However, it informs near-term decision-making regarding its physical development.

    Within long-term Possibilities, the plan reserves a site for a future academic building.  The location identified would require the demolition of the Conference Center Building.

    Another long-term possibility is the renovation (or demolition) of Rydal Building, Clovery Building and/or Hillcrest Building if necessary or desirable.

    Initiate preliminary planning related to utilization of properties purchased adjacent to and nearby campus.

    Negotiate long-term lease for Huntingdon Fields from the School District.

    Locate additional off-campus rental housing for students.

Campus Master Plan

    The potential opportunities illustrated in the plan will help to guide decisions to achieve 3 primary objectives:  to provide facilities that accommodate 3,100 - 3,600 students;  to develop a strategy to manage traffic and parking; and to protect the aesthetic qualities of the campus landscape and architecture.  Click on image for PDF version.