Westgate Summer Renovations
Overview of third-floor updates (May - August 2026)
Watch for Updates
A construction project evolves as plans are refined, schedules shift, and new constraints emerge, so details will inevitably change over time. Check this page regularly to stay current with the latest updates and instructions.
*This page was last updated March 27, 2026.
Project Overview
During late spring and summer 2026, the Westgate's third floor will be renovated to support the college’s growth and research initiatives. Select research labs adjacent to the third-floor hallways will be converted into faculty offices. Interior lab spaces will also be updated to better accommodate graduate students.
During this renovation, faculty and graduate students may choose to work from home to reduce disruption from construction impacts. Those who prefer to work on campus will be temporarily relocated to another location in the building that can provide the necessary network connectivity and research space. Review the information below about cleaning out your lab and the Who, What, Where section for moving information.
All spaces are expected to be completed by the start of the fall 2026 semester. For more information on how the college allocates work space, review IST policy AD-01.
Ask a Question
If you have a question about this project, submit it using the form below or by emailing Carleen Maitland and Hannah Mitrakos.
Impacted Spaces
These Hallway Labs will be converted to faculty offices:
All personal items must be removed by May 3rd
- E311 (Dana Calacci, Jack Carroll, Sharon Huang, Shomir Wilson)
- E320 (Jon Dodge, Nick Giacobe)
- E356 (Saeed Abdullah, Lu Lin)
- E370 (Saeed Abdullah, Hadi Hosseini, Aron Laszka, Romit Maulik)
These Interior Labs will be upgraded and remain labs:
All personal items must be removed by May 10th
- E338 (Hong Hu, Qingyun Wu, Xiang Zhang)
- E342 (Xinning Gui, Yubo Kuo, Aiping Xiong)
- E343 (Hong Hu, Jinyuan Jia, Aron Laszka, Justin Silverman, Amulya Yadav)
- E345 (James Wang)
- E348 (Fenglong Ma, Suhang Wang, Shomir Wilson)
- E362 (Dhan Singh, Dinghao Wu)
- E364 (Johnson Kinyua, Kaamran Raahemifar, Frank Ritter)
- E365 (Frank Ritter)
- E393 (Jinghui Chen, Kenneth Huang, Romit Maulik)
- E394 (Syed Billah, Taegyu Kim, Sarah Rajtmajer, Tanusree Sharma, Anna Squicciarini)
Project Map
Lab-specific layouts are still being determined and will be shared as they are confirmed. View the sample lab layout below for an example of how these spaces could look.
Project Timeline
Hallway Labs
This timeline applies to labs in the main hallways that are becoming faculty offices: E311, E320, E356, and E370.
4/27-5/3
Faculty and students remove all personal items.
5/4-5/8
OPP and IT remove all equipment and furniture. Students needing summer workspace will be assigned to E213 or E339.
5/11-7/31
Construction period.
8/3-8/21
Furniture and technology (re)installed.
8/24
New offices will be opened for occupancy.
Interior Labs
This timeline applies to interior labs that are being renovated but will remain research labs: E338, E342, E343, E345, E348, E362, E364, E365, E393, and E394.
4/27-5/10
Faculty and students remove all personal items.
5/11-5/19
Limited, targeted IT moves may begin, but students may continue working in labs until qualifying exams conclude.
5/25-5/29
OPP and IT remove all equipment and furniture. Students needing workspace for summer will use E213 or E339.
6/1-8/2
Construction period.
8/3-8/21
Furniture, technology, and lab equipment is (re)installed.
8/24
Renovated labs are opened for occupancy.
Cleaning Out Labs
What do you need to know?
Information for Faculty:
For faculty, your personal belongings including books, decor, posters etc., should be moved to your office. These items will not be able to be placed in storage.
If you need to borrow a cart to move your belongings from your lab to your office please contact IT. The cart will be available for two days and then must be returned for others’ use.
This clean out is a great opportunity to clean out old equipment. To help nudge you, IT will be going into labs and putting orange tape on items they believe might be ready to send to salvage. Rest assured, any sensitive data or software will be carefully managed, first wiped by our own IT staff and then checked again by LionSurplus. This is done in accordance with Penn State policy: https://policy.psu.edu/policies/bs15#K
Information for Students:
Students' personal belongings such as tea kettles, coffee cups, books etc., should be moved home for the summer. These items will not be able to be placed in storage.
Hallway Labs must be cleared of all Personal items by May 3rd.
Interior Labs must be cleared of all Personal items by May 10th.
Review the FAQ below for additional information.
How to Label
Facilities has provided each lab blue painters tape and black sharpies.
- Use blue painters tape on a visible surface of the item, write in black sharpie the following information: current lab number / faculty & student name / storage, E339, or discard
- The labeled items will be compared to survey results.
- Any unlabeled items will be discarded.
Labeling Categories:
Lab Items to be Stored
- All equipment will not be needed during the renovation period and can be stored.
*Label Example - using black sharpie on blue painters tape: E111/Dr. Westgate -John Smith/Storage
Lab Items to move to E339
- Facilities will move and set us all equipment labeled to move to E339. Only items needed for the Summer Only.
*Label Example - using black sharpie on blue painters tape: E111/Dr. Westgate -John Smith/E339
Lab items to Discard
- Old, outdated, unused Equipment
Please note: Discard means moved to Surplus/Salvage
*Label Example - using black sharpie on blue painters tape: E111/Dr. Westgate - John Smith/Discard
What to do with excess non equipment trash/discard/bulky trash items?
- Gather all additional trash in one clearly designated area within the lab, separate from any items that should not be discarded. Clearly label this area or the items as “Discard or Throw Away.”
Big Bins in hallways
Facilities will be placing Big Bins in the hallways to assist in cleaning out process and by faculty request carts to assist moving personal items to office spaces.
- What to put in Big Bins: Paper only, including paperback books.
- What not to put in Big Bins: Binders, hard back books, cardboard, binder clips, or other non-paper items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preparing for Your Move
Technology and Equipment
General Questions
Project History
- March 27 - Facilities delivered blue painters tape and black sharpies to each lab as well as high Do not Forget flyers.
- March 23 - Large Bins placed in hallways
- March 20: Dean Tapia emailed - Westgate Renovations and Updated Space Allocation Guidelines
- March 16: Launched Website
- March 9-13: Faculty and Student affected in move received emails with lab details and survey.
- March 5: Dean Tapia discusses renovations and move at college faculty meeting.
- March 5: First Renovation Office Hour held by the Associate Dean for Research.
- March 4: Moving walkthrough of E311, E320, E356 and E370 with Facilities, IT, and Associate Dean for Research.
- February 26: Associate Dean Maitland emailed faculty and students in labs E311, E320, E356 and E370 about removing personal items and the availability of E339 and E215 for qualifying exams.
- February 26: Faculty and Staff Townhall held to discuss concerns about the move.
- February 2: Dean Tapia notified faculty, graduate students, and staff of upcoming renovations, moves, and expected summer noise on the 3rd floor.