A permanent home came in December 1948 when the college purchased 26 hilltop acres (110,000 m2) in Sugarloaf Township which, for nearly 25 years, had served as the residential estate of local coal baron Eckley B. Markle.

The estate, built by Alvan Markle Sr., featured a 32-room fieldstone mansion with every modern convenience available at the time, as well as domestic staff quarters, a greenhouse, and five formal gardens.

Markle's mansion quickly became the administration building and, at various times during its life, has housed offices, classrooms, the library, health services, a kitchen, and a dining room.

Recently, the island in the semi-circular driveway became the home to another Penn State icon - the Nittany Lion statue, a three-fourth's scale replica of the original at University Park.

Through gifts and purchases, Penn State Hazleton now consists of 125 acres (0.51 km2) of land, with the historic structures standing side-by-side with new and modern academic buildings, a manicured garden, a scenic overlook/picnic area, and a number of nature trails.