After renovations to Penn State’s North, South, and East Halls, HRG Engineering announced plans for the renovation of Pollock Halls at the State College Commission and Design Review Board meeting on September 4.

Construction on the nine on-campus dormitories, originally built in the 1960s, is set to finish in 2030. The original estimate for the plan is $332.3 million, however, the final estimated budget is set to be released in the university’s 2028 fiscal year capital plan.

The goal of the renovation plan will be to “enhance the student experience” and provide a “timeless design solution,” Mark Saville of HRG said.

Transformations in the individual dormitories will include the removal of hazardous materials, renewal of building exterior features, replacement of building systems, and new building aesthetics. Systems updates will connect each residence hall and adapt chilled water systems to allow for air conditioning.

Trash systems within the quarters will be revitalized to “consolidate waste management” and reduce trash pile-ups, Saville said. To achieve this, trash compactors and recycling will be located on the ground floor of each hall.

Pollock will also see the integration of ADA-accessible rooms and rooms with communication features.

Similar to East Halls, Pollock will do away with communal bathrooms and adopt multiple single-use gender-neutral bathrooms. Hiester Hall, specifically, will include emergency rooms with integral bathrooms.

Despite the space expansions, Pollock will try to maintain around 2,500 beds to maximize student housing accommodations.

From the mock-up design plans outlined in the meeting’s agenda, the residence halls’ exteriors will consist of red and grey terra cotta, gray brick, metal paneling, and energy-efficient aluminum windows and aluminum curtain walls. The ground level will appear to have a modernized storefront look. A further look at these concept designs can be accessed on page 11 of the State College Borough’s meeting agenda minutes here.

In order to enhance the student experience, green space and common areas will also be taken into account to provide increased recreational space. The current plans suggest that 49% of the quarters will be devoted to open space.

To account for this, HRG engineers aim to conserve the current amount of greenery and tree cover across the common space while integrating newer plantings for extensive tree growth. Examples of greenery additions will include those native to the region such as evergreen trees and shrubs.

Likewise, to achieve a “timeless design solution,” Pollock will abandon its long-standing walkway coverings, which have shown wear.

Given its situation amid multiple busy roads and as a university parking site, the project aims to decrease vehicular traffic through the area to enhance pedestrian safety. To achieve this, each hall will lose its preexisting loading dock. The main loading and unloading dock will be sourced out of Pollock Commons.

As a result, parking space availability will be reduced by seven spaces from the original 375 to increase bike storage and accessibility to SPIN Bikes.

Modes of lighting will also increase to illuminate walkways in a manner that meets updated State College Borough requirements.

While preparations are underway to begin the project, due to its multi-phase nature, completion of the nine residence halls will occur at a rate of two halls per year, with the exception of Beaver Hall.

Wolf and Ritner Hall will be the first to undergo renovations with a completion date of August 2026. Following them will be Shulze and Hiester Halls in October 2027, Shunk and Porter Halls in September 2028, and Beaver Hall in September 2029.

Hartranft and Mifflin Hall’s renovations will conclude the project in December 2030. Each hall will consist of seven to eight stories, and Beaver Hall will be the tallest at nine.