As Penn State continues to undergo a series of facility upgrades across the athletics department, the sights are set on what comes next for its 110,000-seat crown jewel, Beaver Stadium. On Thursday, Penn State announced it will spend the next few months with architecture and design firm Populous to review potential options for a renovated and upgraded Beaver Stadium.
Penn State has been working with Populous since 2016 on developing a massive plan for upgrading athletics facilities, a specialty of Populous. The term of the long-range project was initially set at 20 years, plenty of time to give every athletics facility some upgrades. Beaver Stadium is a venue in desperate need of plenty of upgrades.
“We are excited to work with Populous, led by Penn State letterman Scott Radecic and alum Jeff Funovits, on this important project in our Facilities Master Plan,” said athletics director Sandy Barbour in a released statement. “Our team is looking forward to the feedback from our user groups in order to create the roadmap for the necessary and desired renovations as well as to maximize the value that Beaver Stadium brings to our campus and community.”
The study conducted by Populous will gather information from Penn State officials to community members to learn what kind of upgrades will deliver a top-notch gameday experience. Plans for upgrades to Beaver Stadium are far from definite, but upgraded plumbing and network capabilities will surely be in the mix, as could upgraded seating options. Additional chairback seating is expected in addition to new concession locations and new restrooms and wider concourses.
Populous has worked on a large number of projects centered around large-gathering vents, including a number of football stadiums around the country. That includes Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. They have also worked on a number of athletic facilities, including Penn State’s Lasch Football Building.
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