Construction of the new Campus Recreation and Wellness Center continues to move at a good pace, with the last beam of the steel structure being put in place on Nov. 16.
A “topping off” ceremony on Nov. 16 — for senior leadership and workers at the site — was preceded on Nov. 14 by a Last Beam Celebration on Gallagher Plaza in front of William Pitt Union.
Students, faculty and staff were invited to sign the beam before it was hauled up to the O’Hara Street construction site. A space at the end was reserved for Chancellor Joan Gabel and other senior leaders to sign at the ceremony.
Visitors also could sit in a variety of chairs that are being considered for the center, including ones for the pool deck, the juice bar, the outdoor patio and the lounge. Those who voted on their favorites got a free t-shirt.
Student Health Services and Campus Recreation had tables set up offering wellness guides and other Pitt swag.
The nine-story, 270,000-square-foot recreation center will be open to Pitt students, faculty and staff, and will focus on physical and mental wellness. It has a projected construction budget of $250 million. Pitt broke ground on the project in September 2022 and the building is expected to open in fall 2024.
Follow the building’s progress on this live webcam.
— Susan Jones
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