Members of the Sigma Chi fraternity, 400 E. Prospect Ave., braved the cold this weekend to formally recognize and celebrate a massive renovation of their home that began two weeks ago.

The group's fraternity house is undergoing a $2.4 million interior renovation, which includes improvements in electrical wiring and the kitchen. The project kicked off Saturday with an early morning groundbreaking ceremony. Attendees of the ceremony included alumni, active brothers, State College Mayor Bill Welch, Penn State President Graham Spanier and Vice President for Student Affairs Vicky Triponey.

Sigma Chi moved into the 79-year-old house on Prospect Avenue in 1972. Before the move, the fraternity occupied homes on South Allen Street and Burrowes Street.

Dave Kline, a member of the fraternity's class of 1964 and chapter adviser for Sigma Chi, said though the fraternity has physically moved and is now undergoing drastic renovations, life for the active members will be the same as it was for him.

"Frat life hasn't changed a whole lot," he said. "We still share a brotherhood."

The active brothers of the house will be living in the old Kappa Delta home, located above Canyon Pizza, 260 E. Beaver Ave., until the renovations are complete in July.

The house's renovations are for the better, Kline said. He added that there are two "big changes."

The renovations in the kitchen are allowing the fraternity to sell meals to the neighborhood, he said. Kline said Sigma Chi fraternity might have the equivalent of meal points for hungry neighbors who are in need of a constant source of meals.

"We are turning the kitchen into a profit maker," Kline said. "Any profit will probably go towards eliminating the debt."

Another change to the house includes a suite-like area designed so a full-time house director will have occupancy 12 months out of the year, Kline said. His or her duties will be to "oversee the operation of the house." At this point, the fraternity is not looking to have a director be a watchdog, but to be more of a mentor.

"[His or her responsibilities] will not be, at this point, to kick people out at a certain hour," Kline said.

Kline said when he attended Penn State and was a fraternity brother, many houses had a house mother or director. Today, very few fraternities have the equivalent of a house director. Though he admitted there are few downsides to having a house director, Jim McLean (sophomore-engineering) said there would be benefits.

"The house is going to be cleaner," he said.

Sigma Chi is working with the Fraternity Purchasing Association to find a house director, Byron Woodrum, current House Corporation president and Sigma Chi graduate, said. Woodrum added that the house director could be male or female, though ideally, Sigma Chi would prefer having a husband and wife live there.

Les Vasvari (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he is most excited about the renovated basement, which will be constructed to be the primary facility for social events, Woodrum said.

"There will be amazing parties down there," Vasvari said.

Mike Meirovitz (senior-political science) also said he is looking forward to the changes.

"I'm not sad at all [to see the house change]," he said.

The project will be financed for a short period of time, Kline said. Donations or pledges from alumni are mostly funding the renovations.

"The alumni [have given us] an unprecedented amount of support," Woodrum said.

One of Sigma Chi's oldest living alumni, H. Campbell Stuckeman, a 1937 graduate, said he plans to see the completed house in the fall when he comes to Penn State for football games. Campbell, whose father and uncle graduated from Penn State, said he thinks improvements in electrical wiring will make things easier for active brothers bringing electrical equipment with them to school.

"When we get finished with renovations, it will be a great place," he said.