Ground was broken yesterday morning for the new headquarters of the Alpha Community Ambulance Service on East College Avenue.

Yesterday's events were the official kickoff of a $3 million construction effort to update and expand the ambulance facilities. Alpha will simultaneously build the new headquarters, near the Hampton Inn, 1101 East College Ave., and a satellite station on University Drive across from Foxdale Village Retirement Community, 500 East Marylyn Ave.

The target completion date is Memorial Day of next year.

This project will bring the total of Alpha ambulance stations and substations to three, up from two, in its coverage area of Harris, Ferguson, Patton and College townships, and State College Borough. Alpha also provides back-up service to University Park when Penn State's one ambulance is committed elsewhere.

Alpha's current headquarters, 805 S. Atherton St., was converted from an old restaurant that only has enough garage space to store two of its five ambulances indoors.

The new headquarters will have eight garages to store all vehicles inside, in addition to two more garages at the new University Drive satellite station. Also, the new project will increase space from 3,000 to 20,000 square feet and will include a conference room, fitness room, a large training room, offices and expanded volunteer sleeping quarters.

Andy Snavely, EMT for Alpha, said he looks forward to the opening of the new facilities.

"It's going to make things more comfortable for us and give us a lot more space for everything we do," he said.

The new indoor space is very important because currently, many ambulances are exposed to weather and potential vandalism. Ambulances need to be dug out of deep snow and warmed up before they can respond to a call, and this can affect response time.

"This is the case especially in the winter. Weather really becomes an issue for us," Snagely said.

Penn State President Graham Spanier took part in yesterday's ceremonial groundbreaking. The university provided the lease of four acres of land at the corner of East College Avenue and Puddintown Road for the building project. Alpha will pay $1 a year for the 50-year lease, which provides a prime location for the new headquarters.

"The strategic location of this property with access to major roadways should put time on the side of Alpha Ambulance Service," Spanier said in a speech at the groundbreaking.

Bob Medsgar, vice-chair of the campaign committee for fundraising, said nearly $2.7 million has been contributed and pledged towards the ongoing fundraising campaign for the construction.

"Much money has come from private individuals and companies who make five-year commitments," he said.

Scott Rawson, executive director at Alpha, said the local municipalities have contributed $750,000 towards the cost of the new facility. Also, the federal government provided $100,000 in funds.

The new facilities will actually provide more garage space than Alpha has vehicles. Alpha's facilities will provide a total of 12 garages between the two new buildings and the current satellite in Patton Township.

"We can house more in the new building. We're not building the new facility for just today. We don't want to outgrow our current capacity," Rawson said.

Alpha services about 80,000 people in the State College area, and responded to 6,515 calls last year.