With construction booming across campus, Penn State officials say there are still projects to be completed -- projects that sometimes require the university to borrow funds.
Deborah Blythe, Office of Physical Plant (OPP) facilities resource manager, said that despite the "sticker shock" associated with building costs, construction is still needed.
"Many of our buildings, including Willard and Hammond, were built very cheaply in the 1960s and '70s, and are now falling apart," she said. "Even though everything costs a fortune, the projects are necessary to update our facilities."
She added that plans are currently in the works to renovate the Moore Building, another building constructed in that time period, which is expected to cost about $21.8 million.
The money spent on campus construction is not related to the continuing increase in tuition, Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said.
Funding for construction projects comes from state money allocated through the capital fund. The capital fund is separate from the university's general funds budget, which is used for things such as salaries and employee benefits.
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