The building that housed the old Creamery for more than 70 years will be demolished unceremoniously during spring break -- a move some students and alumni said is a sad ending to the nostalgic structure.

Contractors have just begun gutting the old Creamery building and are preparing to demolish the outer part of the building, where the ice cream was sold, to make room for arts and architecture students and faculty.

Currently, contractors are working mainly on demolition and asbestos abatement while other minor work is also completed.

Borland Lab was the home of the Penn State Creamery from its construction in 1932 until its closure last August. The creamery moved to the Food Sciences Building on the corner of Bigler Road and Curtin Road and was renamed the Berkey Creamery last August.

The historical marker that was located next to the old Creamery has been taken down and a new marker will be placed next to the Berkey Creamery with slightly different text to reflect the creamery's move, Michael Bezilla, director of advancement projects, said.

Borland Lab, located behind the old creamery sales building, will remain intact, but the inside will be completely renovated by late spring 2008.

"We're basically using the shell of the building, the structure and exterior, and basically remodeling the entire interior," Mike Prinkey, Office of Physical Plant (OPP) energy program engineer, said.

The building should open for classes by fall semester 2008, Tim Heltman, OPP project manager, said.

The new Borland Building will house offices and classrooms for the integrative arts and art history departments, as well as the offices for the deans and associate deans for the college of arts and architecture. It will also include some general purpose classrooms and studios, Heltman said.

The renovation of Borland will be freeing up space in Wagner Building and Brumbaugh Hall, where Arts and Architecture offices are currently located.

"They'll be moving from those remote locations over to Borland," Ruskin said. "It will reunite and bring cohesion to the department."

Some students and alumni are sad to see the old Creamery go.

Ralph Spearly, an alumnus who graduated in 1970 with a degree in industrial education, said he understands that progress is important for the university but is still upset that Penn State is tearing down the old Creamery. During summers when he worked at the university, he would visit the Creamery four to five times a day, when an ice cream cone cost 25 cents.

"I think it's a shame -- it dates back for years," Spearly said.

Another student says her father would agree.

"My dad is a hard-core alumni, and he is very upset," Erin Kirby (senior-animal science) said. "He thinks the new location is not any more efficient."

Current students share similar sentiments.

"It's kind of sad because it's been there ever since I've been at Penn State," Jenn Harrington (senior-economics) said.

Other students said the demolition is insignificant.

"I don't think it's a big deal," Jeremy Redmond (senior-animal science) said. "I feel even though it's the old Creamery, the building doesn't have sentimental value."