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October 9, 1997

Pitt submits capital budget 'wish list' to state

Pitt has submitted a fis- cal year 1998-99 capi- tal budget request of more than $158 million to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The capital budget includes funds for construction and renovation projects, furnishings and equipment purchases for the Pittsburgh campus and Pitt's four regional campuses.

In presenting the budget to Senate Council's plant utilization and planning committee at its Oct. 3 meeting, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Resources Management Robert Pack called it essentially a "wish list." The administration is under no illusions that all of projects in the budget request will be funded during FY 1998-99, Pack noted. The budget, though, is a way to keep projects before the Department of Education and the legislature.

"It's the beginning of a very long process," Pack said.

Among the largest capital budget requests for projects on the Pittsburgh campus in FY 1998-99 are $25 million for construction of a convocation center, $25 million for construction of a basic science complex, and $20 million for renovation of the Cathedral of Learning. The $25 million request for a convocation center is in addition to the $13 million the state approved for that project four years ago. The additional funds are needed because the original price was underestimated and because of increases in construction costs. The projected cost for the center is $52 million.

A request for $25 million for a new basic science complex was placed in the budget, according to Pack, "not because we expect it to be funded probably within our lifetime…but at some point in the University's history it's going to be needed." Requests for other projects on the Pittsburgh campus with price tags of over $10 million include: $12 million for a first round of upgrades and deferred maintenance for buildings and building systems; $12 million for a second round of upgrades and deferred maintenance for buildings and building systems, and $11.3 million for renovation of Trees Hall and Fitzgerald Field House.

Also for the Pittsburgh campus, the University requested $8 million for acquisition of Bellefield Towers for Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic's children and family programs; $9.6 million for renovations to Hillman Library; $6 million for ventilation and hood upgrades in the Chevron Science Center; $7.8 million for additions and renovations to the central chilled water system, and $2.6 million for furnishings and equipment for Alumni Hall and Chevron Science Center.

Requests for the regional campuses for FY 1998-99 include: * Bradford campus, $15.8 million for construction of a communications, art and technology building.

* Johnstown campus, $1.58 million for renovations to Owen Library; $540,000 for furnishings and equipment for Biddle Hall; $532,000 for improvements to Biddle Hall, and $78,000 for furnishings and equipment for the Engineering and Science Building.

* Greensburg campus, $46,000 for furnishings and equipment for Smith Hall.

* Titusville campus, $200,000 for furnishings and equipment

Filed under: Feature,Volume 30 Issue 4

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