By SUSAN JONES
It might surprise many to know that Pitt has a new residence hall hiding in plain sight.
University Hall started housing 81 people — mostly upper-class students in the Frederick Honors College — this semester in the former Family House space attached to the University Club.
Pitt has owned the Henry Hornbostel-designed building since 2005. After a $20.2 million renovation, the University Club reopened on the first four floors in 2009. Family House operated University Place on the top four floors of the building until April 2022, with 48 double occupancy guest rooms available for families with loved ones staying in area hospitals.
Last year, Family House acquired the former Courtyard by Marriott at 5308 Liberty Ave. and consolidated its services there. Pitt, which has been trying to bring more students into University-owned or leased property, decided to revamp the University Club housing into a living-learning community for the Honors College.
The new housing has 15 single and 33 double occupancy rooms, all with their own bathrooms, on floors four to seven. Work done on the space included new heating and air conditioning, power upgrades to support student needs; and all new furniture for the bedrooms and community space. A welcome station with a guard was installed at the entrance level.
The eighth floor has a community room with televisions and games, study spaces and an apartment for the on-site resident director. A large kitchen boasts two ovens, a double refrigerator and two islands with seating. Lockers are available for students to store dry goods.
University Hall is just the latest in the expanded footprint of Pitt housing. Around 8,000 students will live in University housing this fall.
In 2021, Pitt purchased the Residence Inn University Medical Center property at 3896 Bigelow Blvd. for $32 million and converted it into efficiencies, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The Residences on Bigelow now has apartment for graduate and medical students, upperclass undergraduates and others associated with Pitt to lease.
This summer, rooms have been added at Forbes Hall in the space once occupied by the University Times and the Office of University Communications and Marketing web team. Centre Plaza Apartments also have been reconfigured to add more beds. And Pitt has expanded its partnership with The Bridge on Forbes apartments to add 17 three-person suites.
The University also manages apartment-style housing leases, including Hyacinth Place, College Gardens, Darragh Street Apartments, and the recently acquired Strand Building on Forbes Avenue, which includes 20 residential apartments.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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