University Times

The University’s Board of Trustees budget committee has approved a fiscal year 2010 capital budget totaling $179 million.

In a Dec. 15 meeting, the committee approved nearly $148 million in educational and general (E&G) construction projects and more than $31 million in non-E&G projects.

Topping the list of E&G projects is a $50.6 million Salk Hall addition and renovation plan that includes construction of an 80,000-square-foot research tower in the parking area behind the existing building. The new building would house laboratories and support spaces, which would be relocated from Salk Hall. The vacated spaces then would be renovated into classrooms and offices.

Other E&G projects are:

• $32.4 million for an addition and renovation to the Chevron Science Center.

• $27.8 million for Olympic sports complex construction.

• $9.9 million for a 20,000-square-foot nursing/health sciences facility at Pitt-Johnstown.

• $9.6 million for preservation projects on the Pittsburgh campus.

• $4 million for the design work for renovation and infrastructure upgrades for Parran and Crabtree halls. A 57,000-square-foot addition would be built over the auditorium, adding four floors for research and other space for the Graduate School of Public Health.

• $3.2 million for ground floor and basement renovations at Thomas Boulevard that will accommodate the relocation of Mailing Services, Surplus Property, Central Receiving and Pitt’s movers from leased space in the Lexington Warehouse.

• $2.8 million for programmatic renovations (excluding Schools of the Health Sciences) on the Pittsburgh campus.

• $2.5 million for new electrical service at Pitt-Bradford.

• $1.5 million for programmatic renovations and preservation projects on Pitt’s regional campuses.

• $1.5 million for classroom renovations.

• $904,000 for general campus security upgrades.

• $646,000 for information technology upgrades.

• $573,000 for construction (including programmatic projects) in the Schools of the Health Sciences.

At the top of the non-E&G projects list is $9.7 million for the new Pitt-Johnstown wellness center, which includes a 38,000-square-foot addition to UPJ’s existing recreation complex.

Other non E&G projects are:

• $5.4 million for a new 103-bed residence hall at Pitt-Bradford.

• $4.5 million for Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences projects.

• $4.2 million for other regional campus auxiliary and non-auxiliary projects.

• $2.5 million for construction of a multipurpose facility and chapel at Pitt-Bradford.

• $1.4 million for the acquisition of 315 Oakland Ave. Planning is underway for additional undergraduate student apartments on the site. The 0.33-acre parcel is located behind the University’s Bouquet Gardens apartments.

• $1.8 million for renovations/preservation of Pitt housing.

• $1.5 million for other Pittsburgh campus auxiliary enterprises.

Both the budget committee and the property and facilities committee must approve capital budget projects. The Salk Hall, Parran/Crabtree and UPB chapel projects remain subject to property and facilities committee approval. That committee’s next meeting date has not been announced.

The $179 million budget is being funded with $22.9 million in E&G financing, $15.8 million in auxiliary debt, $7.3 million in auxiliary reserves, $2.3 million in Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences funding; $86.2 million in state money and $44.5 million in gifts and other funding.

—Kimberly K. Barlow