Are you tired of the overcrowding at the Intramural Building? Do you wish the building design wasn’t so dull inside and out? If you answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions, you’re in luck, because Penn State will begin construction on additions and partial renovations to the IM Building in February of next year.

This addition and renovation project was recently contracted to Mortenson Construction — the same company that’s contracted for the $80 million Pegula Ice Arena — after having been in the works since at least October of 2010. It seems that Mortenson Construction will be carrying out the plan as set out in 2010, which called for a 103,000 square foot expansion to the current 117,000 square foot IM Building. With double the space, the expanded IM Building is sure to alleviate the all too common crowding and long lines

The expansions, which are scheduled to be completed in September 2013, will include new basketball/volleyball/multipurpose courts, a climbing wall, an additional fitness center, and dedicated group exercise rooms among other improvements. In addition, the renovations aspect of the project will focus on enhancing the aesthetics of the admittedly dull IM Building, in hopes of providing “an attractive and inviting structure”.

This coming February will mark the first phase of the addition and renovation project, which will add 48,000 of the square footage and the aforementioned fitness center and exercise rooms.

Sure, extra construction won’t make campus any prettier, but you can expect a few much needed upgrades at IM by the start of Fall 2013.