The student section will be as steep as code regulations allow, with the concession stands taking names of popular hockey lingo. And on September 5th, 2013, the building across the street from Bryce Jordan Center will be Penn State's.

But for now, the Pegula Ice Arena is under the guide of Mortenson Construction, who since

January 23rd

has been planning and constructing to set the project on track for it's intended open for the start of the 2013 ice hockey season.

"We're running right on schedule. Of course, there are some bumps along the way," senior project manager Steve Laurila said Saturday afternoon

.

"But we might be just a little bit ahead."

The lower bowl, which will feature 4,500 chair back seats, encircles the future ice surface, while the student section at the far end of the rink will implement bench style seating, and also house the pep band in the second level of seating.

"The design of the student section is just how Mr. [Terry] Pegula wanted it, right on top of the goalie. We will shoot at that end twice," associate athletic director for Ice Arena and Hockey Development Joe Battista said.

"We will shoot at that end twice, so it really gets the students into it, and with the band, they will be playing out to the entire arena."

A pair of concession stands will sit on both ends of the concourse, one named "Powerplay," the other named "Zamboni."

"We wanted to give people an easy name to remember so that if they need to meet someone, they can simply say 'meet me at the Powerplay,'" Battista said.

"But we also wanted to educate people about the game, too, so at those stands, we'll also have signs giving information and details about those terms."

A community rink sits behind the arena's main rink, but both are the same size at 200 feet by 85 inches. An LED-ribbon board will stretch 270 degrees around the main rink's bowl, while a cafe will sit above the community rink, allowing parents or fans to watch action on the rink below them.

Combined with separate locker rooms for the Division I as well as club programs, the arena will also feature state of the art technology, such as a synthetic ice setup that allows for off-ice shooting training as well as stick and puck handling.

"All these amenities here are key, because that's what attracts top level

kids

to Penn State and sets us apart," Battista said.

"You never know what might catch a recruits eye."

As for the state of the Greenberg Ice Pavillion that currently houses Penn State hockey, Battista said a decision has not been made about the future of the building, other than that it will not remain as an ice rink.