The State College Borough will be receiving a great big gift for the holidays: A completed municipal building.

Janet Knauer, State College Borough Council president, said the new municipal building, located on the 200 block of South Allen Street, will be open for business Dec. 26. Knauer said the borough does not have a date for a community open house, but said it would probably be in the new year.

She said the borough will be able to take possession of the building on Nov. 23 to begin moving in.

The interior is complete, with the exception of some small repairs or things that had been forgotten, Knauer said. Some flooring still needs to be laid as well. One section of the building will be left unfinished to accommodate the needs of the community in the future.

The new furniture for the building should be delivered in the first two weeks of December, council member James Meyer said. But he said everything has been moving along on time.

Knauer agreed with Meyer.

"Everything has gone unbelievably well," Knauer said.

When the plans for the building were approved in 1999 the estimated cost of the project was $10 million and was partially funded by selling bonds. Knauer said the project has remained in budget, as well as being on time.

This building will serve for public use as well, Meyer said.

Meyer said the building is quite large and nice. One feature of the building Meyer noted was the amount of space the building has for public. He said there are small meeting rooms and a larger all-purpose room. Community groups have already registered to use the rooms, he added.

Although the exterior is not complete, things such as the landscaping and ramp also need finishing touches.

Steve Heimer, a community member, has watched the municipal building being built from the Sign Factory, 230-1 S. Allen St., where he works. He said the building seemed to go up pretty quickly. He also said he thinks allowing area groups to use the building would be good for the community.

The new municipal building also will house the State College Police Department, the council and other local government agencies.