University Times

The Board of Trustees' property and facilities committee has endorsed four renovation projects expected to cost about $22 million.

The projects are included in a 10-year facilities improvement plan, which the committee also approved at its April 25 meeting.

The resolutions will next go to the trustees' budget committee for the purpose of including the appropriate amounts in Pitt's operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 1997-98. The full board is scheduled to consider those budgets at its June 26 annual meeting, although passage of the Pitt budgets could be delayed if Pennsylvania lawmakers fail to approve the University's state appropriation by then.

In its resolution approving the 10-year plan, the property and facilities committee said the document — called "The University of Pittsburgh Facilities Plan: 1998-2007" — "conveys a sense of institutional direction" and provides a framework for future consideration of individual projects as they are brought forward for review. Among those proposed projects are a $52 million convocation center, a $32.4 million multi-purpose academic complex and $52.5 million in Hillman Library additions and renovations.

The four projects approved by the property and facilities committee for immediate attention are: * A $16 million renovation of the Masonic Temple to house the offices of Admissions and Financial Aid, Alumni Affairs and Governmental Relations; the Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education; the Katz Graduate School of Business's Center for Executive Education, and a large science lecture hall. Some library facilities also may be included.

The temple project will take slightly less than two years, including eight months for design and 12-14 months for construction, said Ana M. Guzman, interim associate vice chancellor for Facilities Management. Payment sources will include $12.8 million in unrestricted physical plant funds and $3.2 million in gifts and other sources.

* A $3.2 million improvement of Fitzgerald Field House to construct a 12,000 square foot addition and renovate the ground floor for locker rooms, team rooms, training and equipment, primarily for women's sports.

"This project will alleviate the gender equity issues raised by the Office of Civil Rights as part of its review of the University's general compliance with Title IX," according to a background statement distributed to trustees. "Once these facilities are available, the general condition of women's sports at the University will be substantially improved." Unrestricted plant funds will pay for the 12-14 month project, Guzman said.

* A $1.4 million expansion and improvement of outdoor playing fields. The project will include retrofitting existing dirt fields and the infield area of the baseball field with artificial turf, constructing outdoor fields for intramural sports and recreation, and adding lighting to permit night usage.

"The University's outdoor recreational facilities are highly inadequate," the trustees' background statement read. "The lack of outdoor field space is the most critical deficiency with regards to the recreational needs of the University's general student body. This project will substantially benefit the recreational and intramural programs, as well as intercollegiate baseball." Guzman said the four-five month project will be funded by unrestricted plant funds.

* A $1.5 million replacement of the Cost Sports Center floor with a new all-purpose surface suitable for intercollegiate and recreational tennis, basketball and volleyball. In addition, Pitt will install removable carpet to permit continued use of the building as an indoor practice field for football. Expansion of the center's locker rooms also will be considered.

Unrestricted plant funds will pay for the four-five month project, said Guzman.

— Bruce Steele