Updating the Campus, One Project at a Time

Shovels, hammers, and backhoes have kept Pitt’s campus humming with activity. Thanks to dozens of construction and renovation projects, the campus features a new Nationality and Heritage Room, new auditoriums, faster elevators, and updated HVAC systems, as well as more accessibility ramps. A selection of projects follows. 

Cathedral—The Varsity Walk: The walkway, which is lined with distinctive, hand-carved stones with names of outstanding Pitt scholar-athletes, has been renovated to improve drainage issues and landscaping as well as to replace cracked stones. (www.pittsburghpanthers.com/trads/pitt-trads-walk.html)

Korean Heritage Room: Korean craftsmen are putting finishing touches on a new Korean Heritage Room in 304 Cathedral of Learning. The space, Pitt’s 30th Nationality and Heritage Room, is to be dedicated Nov. 15. Inspired by a 14th-century lecture hall in Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University, the space will serve as a classroom. 

Cathedral of Learning Elevators: A $10 million project will improve the efficiency of the building’s elevators. Two of the new, destination-based “smart” elevators are complete, and the remainder will be finished by Spring 2016. Instead of pushing buttons inside the car, riders select their destination at a central kiosk, which  directs passengers to the appropriate elevator. 

David Lawrence Hall: Ready for Fall 2015 are two renovated auditoriums, featuring technological upgrades and better acoustical design, with 570- and 340-seat capacities, and three additional classrooms—each with more than 50 seats. 

William Pitt Union: The student union’s porch features a new foundation, floor tiling, and railings. Workers also installed an accessible ramp from the porch to the sidewalk and patio.  

Clapp Hall: New state-of-the-art laboratories and offices highlight the renovations on Clapp Hall’s ground and first floors. The building’s entire mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have been replaced, along with the elevator. The balance of the building renovations will be completed in September. The exterior is also being cleaned and repointed. Improvements will be made to correct parapets to accommodate a new roof.

Benedum Hall: The 12th floor has been renovated for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, creating classrooms, offices, and support spaces. The 10th-floor Department of Industrial Engineering is under construction and will be completed by the end of this year.

Parran Hall: Upgrades have begun on the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and the renovation of office space. The work should be completed by summer of 2017.

Sutherland Drive: Sutherland Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic this fall. Security gates for authorized vehicles only  will be installed on the north end with retractable bollards on the southern end.