The Pennsylvania State University Completes Largest Collegiate Athletics Master Plan in History with Populous

Pennsylvania State University and Populous recently completed a master plan which reviewed 23 athletic facilities through a comprehensive 20-year outlook. The largest collegiate athletics master plan to date, the study addressed all 31 sports, 800 student-athletes and all facilities operated or occupied by Intercollegiate Athletics.

The project included facility analyses, in-depth market research and more than 80 user group and programming interviews with administrators, coaches and facilities operators. Focused on the centralization of athletics operations and the enhancement of student-athletes and spectators alike, overall campus planning principles and goals were incorporated within the athletic district master plan.

“The primary goals of the athletic master plan were to consolidate operations and enhance the life of a student-athlete,” said Populous Senior Principal Scott Radecic. “The consolidation of activities provides opportunities for more interaction between student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators. As a former student-athlete, that interaction is a key part of a great collegiate experience.”

The first five priority projects include building a Center of Excellence, a new hub for student-athlete performance and development, and a second indoor practice facility. The University also plans to build a new 10-lane natatorium, an indoor tennis facility and to renovate its soccer stadium, Jeffrey Field. The athletic department was committed to both short-term and long-term planning for every sport, looking out as far as 20 years.

Populous also was involved in Penn State’s last master plan, completed in 1996 and resulting in many facility improvements, including the new Lasch Football Training Facility and the 2001 renovation and expansion of Beaver Stadium.

For more information, contact us at media@populous.com.