University Times

Trustees have approved $23 million in funding for a revamped John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness at Pitt-Johnstown. The center will provide a multipurpose space for hosting workshops, academic symposia, student assemblies and other civic events.

The board’s property and facilities committee approved the expenditure in a Sept. 28 meeting in which it also okayed $2.6 million in elevator upgrades at Sutherland Hall and five leases, including one that will move the Office of Finance off campus to facilitate plans for a larger staff. (See related story, this issue.)

Murtha Center

The center is named for the late U.S. Rep. Murtha, a Democrat who served Pennsylvania’s 12th District (which includes Johnstown) from 1974 until his death in 2010.

The University was chosen as the repository for the papers and memorabilia of the late congressman, a UPJ alumnus.

Plans for the Murtha Center have been in flux over the past five years, with the project at times encompassing a standalone building; at others, a building addition. (See Sept. 12, 2013, University Times.)

The project now has three components: a 7,400-square-foot building to be constructed on Kunk’s Drive, as well as renovations in the Engineering and Science Building and the physics labs in Krebs Hall. Construction is scheduled to begin in November, with completion anticipated in December 2016.

• The new John P. Murtha Center for Public Service building will include a multipurpose room, museum exhibit space and administrative offices. It is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.

• UPJ’s Engineering and Science Building, which houses UPJ’s chemistry and engineering departments, will be renamed the John P. Murtha Engineering and Science Building.

Renovations include infrastructure and exterior upgrades, including construction of a new connector corridor to the Nursing Building and a new covered entrance, roof, windows and doors.

Inside, approximately 66,400 square feet of space will be renovated in a project designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. Existing labs, support spaces, classrooms, offices and conference/seminar rooms will be reconfigured and restrooms will be upgraded to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

• Approximately 2,500 square feet of space on the lower level of Krebs Hall will be renovated for two physics labs and associated spaces. The work includes general refinishing and casework modifications, according to trustees committee documents.

Construction is scheduled to begin next month at Pitt-Johnstown on the John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness.
Above: The proposed Murtha Center, to be built on Kunk’s Drive on the UPJ campus, will include a multipurpose room and museum exhibit space.
Below: The project includes renovations to UPJ’s Engineering and Science Building, which is being renamed the John P. Murtha Engineering and Science Building. In addition to interior renovations, exterior upgrades include a new covered entrance and a connector corridor to the Nursing Building.

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The $23 million project will be funded through  $12.75 million in University funds ($6 million in bond proceeds, $2.05 million in UPJ plant funds, $2 million in UPJ auxiliary reserves, $1.7 million in depreciation reserves and $1 million in provost reserves) plus $10 million in state redevelopment assistance capital program grant funds and a $250,000 gift from the John P. Murtha Foundation.

Trustees documents indicate an estimated $57,600 in new annual operating expenses, with estimated annual operating costs totaling $447,909 when debt service is included.

Elevator renovations

The eight elevators in Sutherland Hall will be upgraded to improve reliability and energy efficiency and cut maintenance costs.

The 739-bed residence hall, which includes a 10-story tower and a 12-story tower, was constructed in 1992. However, the building’s eight elevators use technology that’s no longer supported by the manufacturers, according to trustees background documents.

Arthur G. Ramicone, senior vice chancellor, chief financial officer and interim executive vice chancellor, said: “Those elevators are not as reliable as we’d like them to be. They’re old technology. We’re having trouble getting replacement parts. … There’s a lot of disruption to moving the students and staff up and down.”

The $2.6 million project will be funded through auxiliary reserves.

Lease renewals

The committee approved lease renewals for:

• Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic’s research projects housed in One Sterling Plaza, 201 N. Craig Street.

The five-year lease covers 27,011 square feet of space on the building’s 2nd and 4th floors to house WPIC’s Pittsburgh Youth Study; the program for military sleep tactics and resilience and the women’s health and behavior program. The initial annual cost for the space is $823,835.50.

• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute projects, housed on the 3rd and 5th floors of One Sterling Plaza. The five-year lease for 22,426 square feet of space has an initial annual cost of $683,933.

UPCI has received sub-awards totaling $4.16 million for work through July 2019 in support of the NRG Oncology National Clinical Trials Network statistical and data management center and the National Cancer Institute community oncology research program.

• The School of Social Work’s Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, which occupies 39,670 square feet of office and training space at 403 East Winding Hill Road in Mechanicsburg.

The 10-year lease renewal has an initial annual cost of $803,317.50.

• The School of Dental Medicine’s Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, which occupies the 4th and 5th floors of Bridge-side Point One at 100 Technology Drive.

The five-year lease for 21,941 square feet of space has an initial annual cost of $561,302.

—Kimberly K. Barlow