PITT BOARD OKAYS FUNDS FOR NEW STUDENT HOUSING, CONVOCATION CENTER DESIGN, OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS

PITTSBURGH, May 6 -- A new residence hall on the Oakland campus and design funds for the planned Convocation Center were among the 12 capital projects approved today by the Property and Facilities Committee of the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees.

Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg noted that the projects reflect the priorities established in the University's ten-year facilities plan. "One of the main areas of emphasis of our facilities plan is enhancing the quality of campus life for our students. Many of the projects approved today will accomplish this through improvements in the living/learning environment and also in the area of recreation and athletics," he said.

Citing a need for increased undergraduate on-campus housing, the committee approved the expenditure of $5.3 million for the construction of a new facility that will house 204 students in garden style apartments. The committee also approved $1.4 million for design and miscellaneous expenses of the Convocation Center, which the committee termed the most critical project for the development of adequate recreational and athletic facilities at the University.

Each apartment in the new residence hall will accommodate four students in individual bedrooms, with two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining and living areas. The location for the new building will be on property already owned by the University in the area bounded by Bouquet, Oakland and Sennott streets.

"A vibrant, attractive, academically-oriented residential environment can provide a much richer overall college experience for our students and be an important aid in recruiting and retaining quality students," Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said. "This new residence hall will play a key role in strengthening our student housing options; help us guarantee four years of on-campus housing to entering students, and allow us to address a significant concern of our neighbors here in Oakland."

He noted that the University was doing more than just increasing the number of available spaces. "We have taken a number of steps to improve the quality of the residential experience, ranging from wiring the residence halls for direct Internet connections, to providing more indoor exercise and recreational facilities for students."

The committee also approved student housing projects on two of Pitt's regional campuses -- the renovation of the Townhouse Apartments at the Bradford campus, and the construction of garden style apartments to house 98 students at Pitt Greensburg.

The funds approved for the Convocation/Events Center will go towards the design expenses for the multi-event activity complex that will include a

12,000 to 14,000 seat arena for basketball and other athletic events, commencement ceremonies, concerts, exhibits and meetings. The total cost of the building is expected to be approximately $60 million, of which $38 million will come from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

"While the facility will be used primarily for intercollegiate athletics, specifically men's and women's basketball, its construction will free up space in Fitzgerald Field House, and indirectly in Trees Hall, that can then be used for both recreational and other athletics programs," Nordenberg said.

Other athletic and recreation related projects approved by the committee are replacing the floor surface in the Cost Sports Center, Fitzgerald Field house renovation and addition to improve facilities for women's sports, construction of outdoor playing fields for intramural sports and recreation, and the construction of three enclosed tennis courts.

The committee also approved funds for the construction of laboratory facilities for the Pitt Arthritis Institute, office space renovation in the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, phase two of the Cathedral of Learning fire protection system upgrade, and an extension to the University's central chilled water system.