PITT BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW RESIDENCE HALL

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 1 -- Groundbreaking ceremonies for Bouquet Gardens, the first phase of the University of Pittsburgh's new student housing complex took place today. The project, to be located between Bouquet Street and Oakland Avenue, will consist of three garden style apartment buildings which will house a total of 192 upper division undergraduate students.

When completed next fall, these buildings will be the first new structures on Pitt's Oakland campus since Sutherland Hall, another student residence, opened in 1992. They are also the first new buildings in the University's ten-year $500 million facilities plan, the largest construction and renovation program in Pitt's history.

Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg termed the new complex a visible example of Pitt's commitment to increase the availability of on-campus housing for students. "But perhaps even more importantly, it is an exciting new project that will give our students a superior living and learning experience in a setting that will respect the community values of our neighbors," Nordenberg said.

"We are here today for an event that provides tangible proof that the University and the community can work together to achieve a consensus which recognizes the interests of both the University of Pittsburgh and the Oakland community in a way that benefits us all. We sincerely hope that today's groundbreaking is just the first in a series of celebrations that will recognize the efforts of all of us to make the University and the City even better places to live, learn and work in the years ahead," Nordenberg added.

Joining Nordenberg for the groundbreaking ceremonies were City Council President Bob O'Connor; City Councilman Gene Ricciardi; Pitt Student Government President Alyson Wallach, and Building Trades Council President David Hohman.

Expected completion date for the project is August 1999. Estimated total cost of construction is $5.3 million.

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