ARTS AND SCIENCES

The Department of Classics has moved to 1501 Cathedral of Learning.

The German department is settling into its new suite of offices in 1518 Cathedral of Learning. The department recently moved after 30 years on the 14th floor.

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures moved in August to 1228 Cathedral of Learning.

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BRADFORD

Pitt-Bradford’s Hanley Library now features a Starbucks café.

Also new at UPB is a Systems, Networks and Projects (SNAP) computer lab in the Hangar Building. The computer lab enables computer information systems and technology students to simulate the server setup of a small business. It was made possible by gifts of $1 million each from Zippo Manufacturing Co. and UPB president emeritus Richard E. McDowell.

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BUSINESS

The College of Business Administration has created an international programs suite in Sennott Square to provide undergraduate business students with a centralized location for the school’s international programs resources. The suite includes space for the director and two program managers.

The David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership, part of the Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration, has opened an office in Sennott Square. The new space is in addition to the program’s existing space in Mervis Hall.

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ENGINEERING

The Swanson School of Engineering marked the completion of the $150 million renovation to Benedum Hall with a “Building a Better Future” celebration in May, hosted by Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Dean Gerald Holder.

The University and the Swanson school are set to begin an expansion of engineering, energy research and entrepreneurship at the Energy Innovation Center (EIC) in Pittsburgh’s Hill District to provide more flexible, large-scale space for energy research and to encourage partnerships with industry.

The 18,600-square-foot laboratory and incubator will occupy more than one-fourth of the EIC’s central lab area, making Pitt the largest tenant.

The EIC, developed by Pittsburgh Gateways Corp. in the former Connelley Trade School, is designed to engage corporate and community leaders, align workforce development and education, develop and demonstrate technology and incubate businesses to support emerging clean and sustainable energy markets.

The Fischione Instruments Electron Microscopy Sample Preparation Laboratory has been established through a five-year partnership with E.A. Fischione Instruments. The company designs and manufactures sample preparation technologies for electron microscopy and microanalysis research.

The Fischione lab will be housed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science’s Materials Micro-Characterization Lab and will enable collaborative research between Pitt and Fischione Instruments. The partnership includes equipment purchased by Pitt from Fischione Instruments, as well as engineering support and expertise from the company.

According to faculty member Jörg M. Wiezorek, who directs the Materials Micro-Characterization Lab, the ability to conduct high-quality research involving microstructural and microanalytical studies by electron microscopy and ion- and X-ray beam methods relies on the ability to prepare clean, artifact-free specimens.

As part of a partnership with ANSYS, the University is opening a 1,200-square-foot additive manufacturing lab in the Swanson school. The ANSYS Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory is equipped with some of the most advanced additive manufacturing devices that utilize metals, alloys, polymers and other materials to laser print components for nearly every industry.

The partnership also will support faculty and students conducting collaborative research with ANSYS and other industry partners, including those in the biomedical, aerospace and defense industries. Lab workers will have access to the ANSYS portfolio, enabling them to explore, simulate and analyze solutions for stress and fatigue on critical components that go into products such as airplanes, cars and medical devices.

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FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Facilities Management has undertaken numerous projects on the Pittsburgh campus. Among them:

• The Petersen Events Center has added Freshens Burrito Bowl and Pizza Hut to its food court. In addition, the Sub Connection in The Pete’s food court received a facelift this summer.

• Recent renovations for the Department of Geology in the Space Research Coordination Center include lab 103 and converting room 305 into a computational lab. In addition, offices 310, 311, 517 and 528 and lab 519 were renovated to accommodate additional faculty.

• The Innovation Institute, founded to advance the University’s successes in entrepreneurship, commercialization and economic development, has moved into renovated space in the Gardner Steel Conference Center. Interior improvements include new ceiling, wall and floor finishes, along with mechanical and electrical and current code compliance upgrades. The Innovation Institute will show off its new offices at an open house Sept. 14, 4-6 p.m.

• The recently acquired Forbes Craig student apartments were upgraded with new heating systems and controls. Two new boilers and associated equipment and controls were installed and all existing hot water radiant systems were removed.

• Trees Hall varsity area locker room facilities were renovated. A new team space was created with easy access to the pool deck. Recreational locker rooms and restrooms in Trees Hall also were renovated to include ADA-compliant bathrooms, showers and lockers. Both areas were upgraded with new heating, cooling and electrical systems, new floors and ceilings, lockers, toilet and shower facilities.

• As part of the recent drainage system upgrades to the Cathedral of Learning lawn, a rain garden was created to manage the runoff of the system in an environmentally sustainable manner by allowing it to filter through natural vegetation. The rain garden area also includes a perimeter stone border and seating area.

• Cathedral of Learning classrooms 232 and 332 were renovated this summer.

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HEALTH AND
REHABILITATION SCIENCES

The Neuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center has moved to Rivertech Office Works on South Water Street, South Side. The 11,600-square-foot laboratory houses motion analysis systems for specific task and sport analyses with defined areas for sports physiology, body composition, proprioception, postural stability and strength assessments. It includes a swimming flume, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry capabilities and a biochemistry laboratory. The new building also features faculty offices as well as a conference center and classroom for the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition’s classes.

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HOUSING

Elevators in Sutherland Hall East and West have been modernized using the CompassPlus system. As in the Cathedral of Learning, riders request their desired floor before entering the elevator and are directed to a specific elevator based on their request.

The Sutherland Hall lobbies were renovated this summer. Each features a fireplace, a mounted television, new furniture and a charging station. Sutherland’s laundry facilities also were upgraded.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

Human Resources has implemented a compliance center for the collection of employment information for new hires, including all student and staff hires, as well as All-Temps hires. A compliance center for faculty and other academic hires will be created over the next several months.

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JOHNSTOWN

At Pitt-Johnstown, construction is underway on a redesign and renovation of the John P. Murtha Engineering and Science Building, which will house UPJ’s engineering program and provide the space and technology to promote the campus’s STEM curriculum.

The building will feature a new design/build lab and magnetics lab, additional faculty offices, student lounge space and collaboration spaces for engineering and chemistry students.

In addition, space for engineering and chemistry programs will be expanded, including three new teaching labs and two new research labs for chemistry, and 15 teaching labs, an expanded computer lab and additional classrooms for engineering.

Substantial interior renovations were made to the biology and pre-medical sciences academic center. The $1.9 million project involved the renovation of 5,720 square feet of space in Krebs Hall, creating five new teaching and research laboratories as well as more than a dozen new faculty offices.

The biology areas, as well as the renovations underway in chemistry and engineering, will fulfill a strategic commitment to overhaul or renovate and redesign UPJ’s teaching and learning spaces and upgrade associated instructional technologies.

Construction is underway on the John P. Murtha Center for Public Policy and National Competitiveness, which will provide a multipurpose space on campus for hosting workshops, academic symposia, student assemblies and public debates.

UPJ’s 140-bed College Park Apartments are slated for a $6.5 million renovation.
The project includes: a new heating and air conditioning system; roofing; windows; Wi-Fi; kitchens and flooring in apartments not previously renovated; bathroom upgrades; new lighting and carpeting in corridors and lobby; sprinklers and updated fire protection; renovation of selected apartments for ADA accessibility; removal of balconies; and repairs to the exterior facade.

Plans are underway to create a Learning Commons on the Owen Library first floor. The renovated space will create an area for group or individual study.
An emphasis on technology resources, including those related to information literacy and online research databases, will enable students to access library resources and to utilize a wide range of digital and virtual learning tools.

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LEARNING RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Central China Normal University’s Chancellor Ma Min has established a formal partnership between CCNU and Pitt. The goal is to promote international collaborations in innovative educational research between Pitt’s LRDC and CCNU’s National Engineering Research Center for E-Learning (NERCEL). Established by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, NERCEL is China’s only national research center in the field of education. Its strength is the development of digital technology for use across schools in China.

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PUBLIC HEALTH

The newly renovated southern half of Parran Hall includes bright, contemporary offices, conference rooms and seminar spaces, plus an expanded commons area. A café/coffee bar will open later this year. The final round of demolition to the northern half of Parran Hall is scheduled to begin this fall, with completion expected in early 2018.

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TITUSVILLE

Construction on the steps of Broadhurst Science Center has begun.

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UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE

The University Honors College has expanded its central offices to include the 37th floor of the Cathedral of Learning. The offices for national scholarship advising and pre-health profession advising have been relocated there.

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UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SYSTEM

ULS is debuting a reservable, easy-to-use video recording studio this fall. The One Button Video Recording Studio, located on the ground floor of Hillman Library, allows for high-quality video production with no need for technical knowledge, nor for having to adjust lighting or camera settings.

To learn more, visit www.library.pitt.edu/one-button.

Hillman’s ground floor service desk has been named the Donald S. Wood Service Desk following a gift from Wood, a Pitt alumnus. Construction on a reconfigured, user-friendly service point is scheduled to begin soon.

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UNIVERSITY STORE ON FIFTH

The store has expanded its technology department and updated the CSSD technical support area with a new check-in desk, digital screen, workstations and seating.