The University of Pittsburgh is planning to build a fourth Litchfield Tower dormitory, repurpose the historic Pittsburgh Athletic Association into a student center, and reimagine the upper floors of the William Pitt Union as student housing according to the final draft of its updated Campus Master Plan.
The plan will be presented to the college’s board of trustees in December.
Individual projects within the plan will need board approval – and funding – before moving forward, school officials said.
Planned projects are aimed at increasing student housing, enhancing accessibility, and improving public spaces and gateways into the university’s main campus located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
The plan does not specify cost estimates or timelines of each project.
The heightened focus on campus housing comes after Pitt welcomed a record-breaking 31,200 students to its main campus this fall, school officials said.
Plan highlights include:
- Building a new “Tower D” along Fifth Avenue and South Bouquet Street.
- Converting the upper floors of the historic William Pitt Union into suite-style housing for about 350 students. Ballrooms and dining spaces on the lower floors of the 127-year-old building would remain intact.
- Moving student and administrative offices to the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, which would serve as a student center.
- Building a 400-bed housing unit adjacent to the music building at Fifth and Bellefield avenues.
- Converting the Twentieth Century Club, which was originally a women’s social club, into a new alumni welcome center.
- Renovating Trees Hall to have more natural light.
- Adding a gateway at Fifth and Bellefield to bring a “welcoming sense of belonging” to those entering campus.
- Refurbishing the space between Posvar and Lawrence halls into an Academic Support Hub.
- Adding accessible pathways, hang-out spaces and seating to the Cathedral of Learning lawn.
- Installing more greenery around Posvar Hall.
- Creating a Barco Plaza outside of the Barco Law Building.
- Revamping the Litchfield Plaza and Schenley Quad for more accessible, green and social spaces.
Photo by Nicolas DeSarno from Pexels
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