Student Union Building Renovation and Addition - Penn State New Kensington

This contract awards Penn State’s New Kensington Student Union renovation and addition design services to DIGSAU. The project expands the existing 16,000 SF student union with a new 14,390 SF addition (reduced to ~10,000 SF to meet a $10 M budget) and upgrades building systems, accessibility, and interior programming—including a student success center, health‑and‑wellness facilities, and a modern “Campus Living Room.” The design‑build team will deliver program validation, multiple conceptual options, schematic design, design development, and construction‑document packages while collaborating with a later‑selected construction manager at risk. The total construction cost is budgeted at $8.9 M, with design fees likely representing roughly 10 % of that amount. Key milestones include LOI (Nov 5 2021), RFP (Dec 6 2021), short‑list interview (Feb 7 2022), construction start (Jan 2023), and anticipated occupancy (mid‑2024). The university emphasizes high‑performance sustainability standards (ASHRAE 90.1/189.1) and encourages DBE participation. • Scope: full‑building architectural and engineering design for renovation + new addition. • Budget: $8.9 M construction; design‑service fee estimated near $1 M. • Schedule: award Feb 2022 → design phases 2022 → construction 2023‑2024. • Requirements: three concept options, compliance with PSU high‑performance standards, DBE inclusion, and collaboration with a construction‑manager‑at‑risk.