MEDIA, Pa. – An integral part of Penn State Brandywine’s campus went under construction this past summer, as the campus’ Lion Shrine received much-needed renovations to give it a fresh coat of paint and ensure it is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible.

Planning for the new Lion Shrine began in the spring semester of 2025, when then-second-year student Tejas Chigurupati was running for Student Government Association (SGA) president. As someone with special needs who found it difficult to navigate accessing the Lion Shrine, one of Chigurupati’s campaign promises was to assist in renovating it to make it ADA accessible.

“As someone with special needs myself, I see firsthand the obstacles community members face when they can't access spaces and resources that most people take for granted,” he explained. “The Lion Shrine is a meaningful place on campus, and I wanted everyone to be able to experience it. I was inspired by the accessibility renovation of the campus gazebo which added an accessible sidewalk, and I wanted to bring that same kind of change to the Lion Shrine.”

With help from the Office of Physical Plant, the Student Initiated Fee Committee and the University Access Committee, planning was underway for the new Lion Shrine during the 2025-26 academic year. The renovations took place over the summer in 2026.

Before the renovations, the Lion Shrine – coated in white paint – sat on top of a bed of mulch. Now, the newly-painted shrine – in the University’s signature “Lion Shrine” shade of tan – sits on a cement slab that also has a path leading up to it from the sidewalk.

With the renovations completed, Chigurupati – who is now a fourth-year student set to graduate in December – said seeing his vision become a reality was very rewarding.

“It's incredibly rewarding. This was never a one-person effort. It came together because students in SGA and campus staff worked alongside me as a team. It was also made possible by all the people behind the scenes: the construction workers, landscapers and everyone else who put in the hours to turn the plans into reality,” he said. “As someone with special needs, it means a lot to know that more people can now visit the shrine without barriers. Seeing it finished after more than a year of meetings, plans and funding requests was an exciting moment, and I hope it shows other students that they can make a lasting difference on campus too.”