SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University trustees on Friday agreed to revise plans to renovate Miller Auditorium and expand the renovations to include both East and West Gyms.

The total cost of the new plans is $22.9 million and includes a 9,500-square-foot addition for theater shop space, a dance studio and a new lobby as part of a new performance and classroom laboratory facility.

According to Scott Albert, assistant vice president for facilities and planning, the revised plan is expected to go before the State System of Higher Education board in October meeting,

If approved, it would next move to the state Department of General Services, which handles construction of facilities at all state agencies. That department would hire an architectural firm to complete or update the construction plans.

Until closed for renovations, Miller Auditorium was the SRU’s only proscenium theater with seating for 900. It was primarily used by the theater department for stage productions as well as for lectures and dance and music performances.

The overall renovation plan is being financed by state funding, the state system and private donations, according to a SRU news release.

The revised plans are expected to save $2.7 million in state appropriations and $1 million in SRU reserves.

The savings in state funding could be used for deferred maintenance projects or put toward the construction of a safety management laboratory.

At the trustees meeting, they heard from a number of students and faculty calling for support of the new performance facility. Several pointed to SRU’s award-winning theater and dance programs and the importance of having a quality facility for student learning and performance.

Plans for Miller Auditorium have been on hold for a few years because the state would not release funding for it. It originally was to cost $24.5 million.