Future Pollock Halls Renovations

Story posted February 23, 2022 in CommRadio, News by Paloma Freundt

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is finalizing construction on renovated East Hall dorms by the end of this academic school year and plans to renovate existing dorms in Pollock Hall through this decade,starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

These renovations were anticipated to take place in the 2021-2022 school year but due to COVID-19, plans were delayed.

Renovations plans are expected to be slightly different from that of East Halls, but follow the same model for the most part. Some of the renovations include, climate-controlled rooms, updated furniture and living spaces, improvements to the building’s appearance, disabilities accessibilities and landscaping.

Carlos Garcia, a sophomore who lived in the Pollock dorms his freshman year had some thoughts on the renovations.

“It’s a shame that myself and other students weren’t able to have that renovated experience, that AC, the nice room,” Garcia said. “You could definitely tell that some walls had mold. You could tell they were older; the closets would really squeak. It’s very nice that Penn State is taking that initiative to remodel the Pollock dorms, increase the name and make the school and its image better.”

Penn State officials say next year’s proposed increase in room and board rates will support Pollock Hall’s renovations. Students living on campus are expected to pay about 3.5% more than currently beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.

The associate vice president for auxiliary and business services, John Papazoglou, said the school is committed to do their part to reduce the overall cost of Penn State education.

Papazoglou assured that they plan to do everything they can to reasonably reduce costs and find efficiencies in their operations so that room and board rates can be held as low as