Pitt Board Committee Approves Preliminary Development for Science Labs Renovation, Residence Hall Construction

The Property and Facilities Committee of the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees gave funding approval at its Oct. 8 meeting for preliminary project development for the renovation of two science laboratories on the University’s Pittsburgh campus and the construction of a new residence hall on the Pitt-Bradford campus.

One of the laboratory projects approved is the Chevron Science Center First-Floor Instructional Laboratories Renovation. About 7,500 square feet of the Chevron Science Center’s first floor will be renovated to add a general chemistry laboratory and modernize instructional laboratories currently housed on the floor. The project also will provide space for three additional offices in a faculty office suite and an area for instructor training and practice experiments. The project is part of the University’s 12-Year Facilities Plan and modernizes valuable chemistry space for multidisciplinary teaching needs.

The second laboratory project is the Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower 10^th-Floor East Laboratory Renovation. About 25,000 square feet on the 10th floor of the Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower will be renovated to consolidate and expand research activities of the Department of Immunology within the Pitt School of Medicine. The project will create a modern, open laboratory space with associated support areas. The renovation will increase the efficiency of space usage, modernize utility distribution systems, and create a layout conducive to sharing resources.

The new student housing is for the Bradford campus. The residence hall will be a three-story, 40,120-square-foot building with a brick exterior. It will have a capacity of 109 beds, primarily arranged in two- and three-bedroom suites with two full bathrooms, living rooms, kitchenettes, and storage closets. To accommodate the increasing student population, an existing parking lot will be expanded with an additional 85 parking spaces.

Following approval for the phase one funding, the Property and Facilities Committee will inform the Budget Committee of the Board of its action for the purpose of including the necessary funding in the capital budget of the University.