EDITORS: The Baierl Center's dedication ceremony is open to media coverage. PITT'S NEW BAIERL STUDENT RECREATION CENTER TO BE DEDICATED SEPT. 4

August 30, 2002

PITTSBURGH––The University of Pittsburgh will dedicate the recently opened Baierl Student Recreation Center at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4; the new center is located at Terrace and DeSoto streets, in Oakland.

The by-invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony will include speeches by Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, Pitt Provost James V. Maher, Pitt Student Government Board President Kevin J. Washo, and Pitt alumnus Bill Baierl (EDU '51).

The state-of-the-art Baierl Center is a student exercise and recreation facility made possible by Baierl. Other notable gifts to Pitt from Baierl include the Baierl Scholarship Fund in Athletics, the Karl C. H. Oermann Scholarship Fund in Education, funds for the purchase of new marching band uniforms, and a gift for renovations to the Fitzgerald Field House. As announced previously, the Pitt men's and women's basketball teams' practice facility has been named The Baierl Basketball Center in recognition of Baierl's generous contributions to the University.

"If we were to compile a list of Pitt's favorite people, Bill Baierl would be right up at the top of it," says Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg. "Bill is one of the region's best-known and most-respected businessmen whose commitment to Pitt and the Pittsburgh community has been constant. We have a deep appreciation for everything that Bill has done for Pitt in the past, and know that his support will continue in the future, made most evident through his generosity toward the Baierl Student Recreation Center."

The 43,000-square-foot Baierl Center is on two floors; its main entrance is located on the lawn level of the Petersen Events Center. Built with an all-glass front wall, the Baierl Center looks out over the former site of Pitt Stadium, an area that will be used for additional student recreation. Students access the Baierl Center through an entry that houses a juice and coffee bar.

The expansive student recreation center features four racquetball courts and two squash courts, along with Cybex weight machines, a large free-weight area, a state-of-the-art aerobic area complete with treadmills and bikes, a health assessment area, an aerobics classroom, and a martial arts practice room.

The Center opened on Aug. 26, the first day of classes at Pitt, to heavy student usage: Students were waiting in line for the Center to open at 7 a.m., and by mid-afternoon every piece of equipment in the new facility was being used.

The Baierl Center is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

Bill Baierl, a former Pitt basketball player and scholarship recipient, graduated from Pitt in 1951 with the Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and went on to earn a business degree in sales and management from Kettering University (then General Motors Institute) in 1954. Baierl is currently president and CEO of Baierl Family of Dealerships, located in Wexford, Pa., one of the largest automobile dealership groups in Western Pennsylvania. A strong supporter of athletics and recreation in the Pittsburgh region, Baierl has made donations to various organizations throughout Western Pennsylvania.

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