MEDIA ADVISORY: Pitt to Hold Grand Opening for New O’Hara Student Center Dec. 5

PITTSBURGH—The Grand Opening of the University of Pittsburgh’s new O’Hara Student Center, 4024 O’Hara St., Oakland, will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5, including an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:20 p.m. with Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, other University officials, and student leaders.

Built in 1913, the O’Hara Student Center, formerly the Concordia Club, has approximately 35,000 square feet of space and was purchased by Pitt two years ago. The renovation of the facility was directed by Pitt’s Office of Facilities Management with support from the University’s Division of Student Affairs. The renovation, which included tearing out walls, updating the heating and cooling systems, replacing the roof, and upgrading the lighting, was completed in April of this year.

The space has been redesigned to be a compatible blend of the old and new, with the social club’s distinctive Romanesque Revival architecture still present. The extensive renovation included adding state-of-the-art sound systems and refurbishing the elaborate crystal chandeliers and sconces in the ballroom with LED lighting to make the interior brighter and more energy efficient.

In keeping with the Concordia Club’s original charter to “promote social and literary entertainment among its members,” the O’Hara Student Center now provides space for students to read and study, hold formals and receptions, and host lectures and performances. The center also provides office space for a number of student groups and is the new home of Pitt’s Math Assistance and Writing Centers.

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