Students who walk by the large, white-pillared University House probably don't know what goes on inside.

"What is it for? I've been past it a few times, but I don't know what it's for," said Tammy Rosman (senior-psychology).

The University House, home to 11 former University presidents from 1864 to 1970, underwent many renovations that began last April and were completed in October, said Casey Goodall, director of constituent relations. As the oldest building on campus, it housed University presidents from Evan Pugh in 1864 until Eric Walker in 1970.

"When the anti-war riots began in the '70s, they got scared and moved the president off campus," Goodall said.

From the outside, the house looks like a big, stone-faced country mansion with landscaped gardens and small gazebos. The first floor of the interior contains large reception rooms decorated with paintings, chandeliers and a grand piano.

The first floor, used for entertaining, events and receptions, was not changed much during the renovations, which cost about $750,000, Goodall said. The remodeling was done in preparation for another Campaign for Penn State, she said.

The reception room seats 48 and can hold a standing crowd of 150. This floor is also equipped with a catering kitchen and the new additions -- ceiling sprinklers to comply with fire codes and two handicap-access bathrooms, put on all three floors in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ceiling was lowered to install the sprinklers, but the woodwork was preserved.

"You have to be a member of the president's staff or be a dean to reserve the house," Goodall said. Receptions are held here for major donors to the University, University prospects and members of the administration, such as those who are retiring, she said.

A full staircase has also been added to the back of the house to meet fire codes and allow a second exit from the second and third floors.

The Office of Constituent Relations, with a 10-person staff, is located on the second and third floors. Besides special events, the office does acknowledgements for the president's office and the development office, puts out the annual report, sends out pledge reminders, organizes football tailgate and press box activities the president hosts and hosts donor recognition events, Goodall said.

The Office of Constituent Relations has also taken on two student interns to help plan events.

"I'm thinking of going into convention centers and planning events when I graduate, and that's exactly what they're doing at the house," said Cari Johnson (sophomore-hotel, restaurant and institutional management)

As an intern at the office, Johnson helps send out invitations and plan University House events.

The Mount Nittany Society, with more than 470 members who have donated $100,000 or more to the University, is also housed here.

Until the renovations by a Harrisburg construction company, the third floor was uninhabitable and was used only for storage, Goodall said. Now there are offices, conference space, and the back staircase also leads to this level.

"Even though they modernized the house, they tried to keep the charm and the old qualities of the house that make it special," Goodall said.