Get to know Penn State Altoona's two campuses: Our beautiful 171.5 acre Ivyside Campus and our Downtown campus, located in the heart of the city of Altoona.
E. Raymond Smith Building
The Smith Building holds a wide variety of administrative offices, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar (student records and schedules), Bursar (billing and tuition) and Academic Advising, including the Division of Undergraduate Studies for students undecided on their major.
Steven A. Adler Athletic Complex
The recently renovated Adler Athletic Complex is home to our 15 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams including golf, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, basketball, swimming/diving, bowling, and volleyball, as well as intramural and club sports. It contains the Adler Arena, an auxiliary gymnasium, a swimming pool, and the two-story Reliance Bank Fitness Center available to students with their Penn State ID.
The Athletic Complex also has outdoor athletic facilities, including a soccer stadium, 8-lane track, softball and baseball fields, and tennis courts.
Port-Sky Café
Students can grab a bite to eat or a Starbucks coffee in Port-Sky Café. Port-Sky is our main dining hall on campus, featuring an a-la carte style food court open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meal plans are available to students and are required for those living in the residence halls.
Residence Halls
Our four residence halls, Oak, Maple, Spruce, and Cedar, house about 900 students on campus, with 650 spots reserved for first-year students. Oak and Maple are traditional-style residence halls with two students per room with a shared bathroom on the hall, housing primarily first-year students. Spruce and Cedar are suite-style residence halls, with four students per two-bedroom suite with a shared bath and house both upperclassmen and first-year students. All halls are equipped with laundry facilities, computer labs, study spaces, and TV lounges. Professional Residence Life staff and Resident Assistants provide learning opportunities, support, and a safe community for our students living on campus. All halls are secured 24/7 and are only accessible by card swipe entry.
The Penn State Bookstore
The bookstore, contracted with Barnes & Noble, offers textbooks for rent or purchase, classroom supplies, and computer software. It’s also a one-stop shop for all your Penn State apparel.
Harry E. Slep Student Center
The Slep Student Center serves as the social hub of Penn State Altoona where many campus events are held. Slep is equipped with two lounges overlooking the reflecting pond, an on-campus convenience store, and the Center for Student and Civic Engagement Office which supports our 60+ student clubs and organizations. It is also home to our International Student Services Office, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Career Services Office.
Edith Davis Eve Chapel
The chapel is non-denominational, containing a sanctuary, offices for ministry staff, and meeting space for our faith-based organizations. The chapel also houses our Ivyside Eats campus food pantry which is available for students with their Penn State ID.
Robert Eiche Library
The Eiche Library includes eight study rooms, individual study cubicles, and a One Button Studio which includes recording and editing equipment for special projects. Students may borrow books and a variety of other resources from the library, which also is equipped with a 3D printer available to students for free. The Internship and Education Abroad Offices are also located in the library.
Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center
Located on the first floor of the library, the Learning Resource Center offers free in-person and online tutoring for students by both professional and peer tutors on a variety of subjects. Also located on the first floor, the Writing Commons has writing consultants to offer students support and guidance on all writing matters.
Hawthorn Building
The Hawthorne Building is Penn State Altoona’s largest classroom building, holding 24 classrooms and 56 faculty offices. It’s equipped with a music room, the largest computer lab on campus, and Coaster’s Coffee Bar, where students can order Starbucks drinks and small food items. The IT Help Desk, located in the Computer Center, provides technology-related support to students living on or off campus.
Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts
The Center for Performing Arts houses our Integrative Arts and Visual Arts Studies majors. It’s equipped with a dance studio, scene workshop, art galleries, and the 400- seat Wolf Kuhn Theatre where many musical, theatre, and dance performances are held. There are a variety of performing arts-related organizations in which students can get involved.
Ralph and Helen Force Advanced Technology Center
Force houses our Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology major and contains five state-of-the-art engineering labs, including a machine shop/chemical lab, manufacturing lab, senior project lab, controls lab, and a communications lab.
J.E. Holtzinger Engineering Building
“Holt” contains three engineering graphics labs, two physics labs, two biology labs, and research labs. A greenhouse is located behind the building for students majoring in environmental studies.
Science Building
Connected to Holt, the Science Building houses our Biology and Science majors. It’s equipped with one organic chemistry lab and two inorganic chemistry labs. Science also holds our largest lecture hall on campus, seating 120 students.
Sheetz Family Health Center
The Sheetz Family Health Center is home to Penn State Altoona’s nursing program and the student Health and Wellness Center. Nurse practitioners and a physician are available and able to diagnose and prescribe medication. Many health services are available for students, including routine and acute care for illness/ injuries, immunizations, allergy clinic, flu vaccines, and physicals. The Health and Wellness Center also provides counseling and is home to our Office of Disability Services.
Poplar Building
The Poplar Building is located a half-mile from Penn State Altoona’s main entrance on Juniata Gap Road. It houses our campus police and our parking office. Penn State Altoona has 9 full-time campus police officers.