The Penn State Board of Trustees approved a "master plan" for the development of Penn State Harrisburg at Friday's meeting to further transform the former military base into a student-friendly campus.

"Campus planning has been an essential business practice here at Penn State," said Gary Schultz, senior vice president for finance and business for the university. "The master plan is a guide to help make critical long-term decisions regarding the physical development of the campus."

The proposals included the construction and renovation of multiple buildings, the purchase of neighboring land and the general beautification of the campus.

"The quality and appropriateness of space presents ongoing challenges," said Madlyn Hanes, chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg. "Facilities were designed in a seminar style, suitable for smaller class sizes, and were not originally intended for full-time students."

Hanes added that housing and student entertainment would be an ongoing concern.

"We see a need for space and facilities designed for student engagement and additional student housing,"
she said. Penn State Harrisburg currently houses 478 students, and officials hope to expand facilities to hold 775.

The plan also called for the construction of a new access road to neighboring PA Route 230, with the aim of lessening truck traffic on the campus' main road.

Schultz was quick to clarify that the board did not approve funding or a specific design.

"It is not an implementation plan," he said. "If the time comes to advance a project, that project will be brought back to the board."

The campus was originally the Olmsted Air Force Base, for which the main administrative building is named. Upon the base's closure in 1966, the Penn State Board of Trustees voted to establish the Capital Campus in its facilities; since then, Penn State Harrisburg has grown from 183 graduate and undergraduate students to nearly 3,800, taught by 307 instructors.

Although Penn State Harrisburg has built numerous recent constructions, including a food court, an aquatic center and eight tennis courts, Schultz said the improvements presented to the board would not be implemented for some time.

"This is a vision for the campus that is decades in the future," he said.

Mike Newhouse, a sophomore majoring in engineering at Penn State Harrisburg, said some of the buildings could use updating.

"The workout facilities are old," he said, "and the [student union] needs improvement."

Despite challenges, Hanes said Penn State Harrisburg would push forward in improving its image and its campus, and continue to impress students and visitors.

"We never tire of it: I call it the 'wow factor'," she said. "We're going to continue the momentum we've had this far."