Beaver Stadium Renovation Underway

Most projects commence with shovels hitting the dirt. Work on the Penn State University Beaver Stadium renovation kicked off with a bang. The stadium’s press box was felled by a series of explosive charges to make way for major upgrades at the 64-year-old venue.

Our structural design team behind the three-phase renovation joined project partners A&F ENGINEERS INC. and Stahl Sheaffer Engineering as well as Penn State Nittany Lions football fans at the January 4 celebration. “What an exciting way to kick off construction on a snowy day in Happy Valley!” Senior Associate Eric Grusenmeyer, pictured left, said. “It’s great to see construction start after working through the design with Populous over the past year. We are looking forward to watching the project come to life.”

With a seating capacity of 106,572, Beaver Stadium is currently the second largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth largest in the world. The existing press box and seating bowl, portions of which were originally constructed at a different site in the 1930s and moved to the current location in the late 1950s, will be replaced with suites, club seating, a new press and broadcast facility, and four tiers of seating. Stadium-wide improvements will include wider concourses, enhanced amenities and concessions, increased accessibility, and improved circulation with new stairs, escalators and elevators.

Other upgrades include winterization and enhanced infrastructure for multi-use functionality, and the addition of a new Welcome Center, advanced videoboards and ribbon boards. The lower bowl will be replaced with upgraded seating over locker room and club spaces. Temporary seating will minimize disruption to fans during the renovation, which is expected to wrap up in time for the 2027 football season.