Plans to renovate and expand the Lasch Football Building have been approved by the Penn State University Board of Trustees.

On Thursday, Penn State University announced that a proposal to renovate the building was advanced by the Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning. The full board voted on the plan on Friday and it was approved by a vote of 27-6, according to Mark Wogenrich of Sports Illustrated.

The project will cost approximately $48.3 million and will assist in the training, education, health and safety needs of student-athletes.

“We have continued to invest in our athletics facilities the last several years, and the Lasch Building has been a big part of that,” athletic director Sandy Barbour said on Thursday. “We always strive to provide our student-athletes quality facilities which will prepare them for a lifetime of impact, while competing for national championships in all 31 sports. Our alumni and donors have supported our Football Excellence Fund since its inception in recognition of the investment required to support a consistently excellent football program. We will continue to fundraise for this renovation, as well as future projects in our football facilities, and will need the support of our entire Penn State community.”

“With the support of the Board of Trustees and many great donors to our Football Excellence Fund, we have been fortunate to complete several upgrades to the Lasch Building since our arrival,” said football head coach James Franklin. “This next phase of those renovations will continue to provide our student-athletes with the resources needed to compete at the highest level on and off the field. The addition of the student-athlete development suite for our 5th Quarter Program will provide a world class facility to prepare our guys as they transition to Penn State and prepare them for life beyond football. We will continue to fundraise to make this this and future projects a reality.”