Jessica Christensen
As the school year comes to an end and the weather warms up, many students have questions about the current construction progress at Degenstein Campus Center and what the timeline looks like for the project. The $20 million construction project has been in process since the end of the 2024-2025 academic year and students are noticing little details are being finalized on the Degenstein building: sidewalks being paved, roofs going up and more.
One universal question that students share concerning the timeline is when will Degenstein be completed and able to be used to its full extent. According to Tammy Womer, Assistant Director of Facilities Management, the project “[r]emains fully on schedule.” She also adds that “If you were to walk through the space right now, you’d see drywall installation and interior finishes actively underway.”
Although the addition is restricted to authorized personnel only, the progress is more on its way than what it may look like. Walking past the construction site, students can see machines like excavators clearing paths for new pavement to be placed along with workers digging trenches to put in new electrical equipment.
Concerns involving the construction process in relation to the recent unpredictable weather have led to some asking if the snow has had an effect on work being completed or the safety of the workers. Womer explained that “Zartman’s Construction is fully equipped to work safely and effectively in all conditions, so progress has continued without interruption.”
Over the past week, the fence blocking off the site has been extended to add the new sidewalk that will connect the campus with the new addition. Due to the construction site increasing, large black rubber mats have been laid over grass and mulch areas so students can safely travel around the area.
The safety of all students and faculty remains a top priority, which is why at the beginning of the construction, the office of Residence Life was temporarily moved to the basement of Blough Weis Library in the VIP Center. The original plan was for the office to remain there through the entirety of the Fall 2025 semester and relocate back to Degenstein at the beginning of the Spring 2026 semester. However, the Residence Life team made the decision to remain in the VIP Center for the rest of the academic year due to “active construction occurring directly above and around [the old office] area […]” and “[t]here were significant safety and noise concerns that made an earlier move impractical.”
Therefore, students can continue to find the Residence Life office in the VIP Center, located in the library, until they relocate back to Degenstein after the academic year concludes.
The open seating area in Degenstein, located outside of Starbucks, is constantly utilized by students to study or to mingle with friends. As warmer weather approaches, students usually find their way outside to the tables to complete work while taking advantage of the sun. Ever since construction started, students wonder what will happen to the tables now that the patio is no longer here.
“Some of the tables will remain on the patio in their current locations, while others will be repositioned along the north side of the new event center,” states Womer. As a result, students can continue to have an area to soak in the sun and work on assignments.
Tammy Womer states that “[they] expect to move into the final stages of Phase 2, including furniture installation and last-touch details, during the first week of May.” They are also anticipating the addition will be “ready in time to host a few events during Commencement.” Graduating students would be able to explore the new area with friends and family before leaving campus after completing their academic time at Susquehanna University.
The new area will operate as a “flexible event center” with some of the O&M Dining offices being located there. Womer also informed that the event center will accommodate for “events such as conferences, weddings, and dinners. The space will also feature three restrooms to support larger gatherings.”
Phase 3 of the construction process is expected to be completed in time for students to return for the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.