A $92.1 million plan aims to completely renew Ritner and Wolf residence halls at University Park campus. Beyond replacement of outdated building systems, the project will provide new amenities for residents such as air conditioning and shared private bathrooms. The halls are designed to encourage social interaction and provide adequate study rooms for residents, as well as accessibility upgrades. Pictured here is an architect's rendering of the renovated Ritner and Wolf halls as viewed from Pollock Road. The renovations also call for more natural light in the buildings and new exterior cladding.
Editor’s note: This story has been revised to include updates from the board’s Feb. 21 meeting.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees approved several proposals at its meeting on Feb. 21, including a plan to renovate two residence halls at the University Park campus and three real estate transactions.
The board also finalized its meeting schedule for 2026, including setting its July meeting at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Trustees approved a plan to start the renewal of the Pollock Halls residence complex at University Park, beginning with updates to Ritner and Wolf residence halls.
The $92.1 million plan aims to completely renew the 1960 residence halls. Beyond replacement of outdated building systems, the project will provide new amenities for residents such as air conditioning and shared private bathrooms. The halls are designed to encourage social interaction and provide adequate study rooms for residents, as well as accessibility upgrades.
The project is scheduled to be completed in summer 2026.
The board also:
- Approved to advance a proposed ground lease of approximately five acres near Interstate 99 and Innovation Park Boulevard in State College to Catalyst Healthcare, for the construction of a 50,000-square-foot acute care rehabilitation hospital.
- Approved a proposed real estate divestiture of 41.5 acres of property by the Penn State Harrisburg campus for $19.5 million. The property, which is now vacant land, was originally used for housing when the site was an Air Force base and then as housing for Harrisburg campus students from 1970 to 2002.
- Approved to advance a plan to divest 2.765 acres near the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey for $210,000 for a planned water reservoir.
During the meeting, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi provided the board with an update on her Feb. 20 appropriations testimony to the state legislature.
In addition, Bendapudi recognized recent faculty and staff accolades, including:
- Richard Alley, Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences, being awarded the National Medal of Science in January;
- Faculty members Catherine Berdanier, Margarita Lopez-Uribe and Laren Zarzar winning the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers; and
- Staff members Erik Cagle, Nichole Ginnan and Dawn Hamaty for winning 2024 University Staff Advisory Council Awards.
The president also highlighted the work of Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Mentoring program.
