Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Pittsburgh to Build New Recreation Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/19/22

Construction on a new Campus Recreation and Wellness Center at the University of Pittsburgh is underway. The project is part of a wider Campus Master Plan that was finalized in 2019 and will provide amenities like a recreational pool, jogging track, basketball courts, weightlifting equipment and more. The facility has an estimated size of about 270,000 square feet and will stand nine stories tall, according to a news release.

“It’s going to be in the heart of campus. People who live on upper campus tend to go to the Baierl and Petersen Events Center, and people who live on lower campus tend to go to the William Pitt Union Gym,” said Kaylea Gallagher, a biology sophomore and member of the university dance team. “We both will get to meet in the middle, and based off what they’re saying, I think it’s going to allow for everyone to get what they need right in one place.”

The new recreation center will stand on the site of the former Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), whose demolition kicked off the third phase of the Campus Master Plan last August. Groundbreaking for the new rec center is scheduled for spring 2022, with an estimated completion date of fall 2024.

“This project began with listening to students, and their voices were loud and clear,” said University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “They wanted better recreational opportunities and experiences at Pitt. From day one, we’ve made it a priority to engage students as true partners in planning the center and bringing our shared vision to life.”

The building is also set to include sustainability initiatives like natural light and energy efficiency, sustainable stormwater management and elements of biophilic design. According to a news release, it will conform to the standards set by the Pitt Sustainability Plan released in 2018. The facility will also seek LEED certification.

Other wellness initiatives in the space include meditation spaces, yoga spaces and dining options. Kaylea Gallagher called the wellness initiatives “helpful” beyond the amenities of a traditional gym. “Especially during studying and with college academics, it’s important to be able to take care of yourself when you have free time, and I think it will provide a lot of benefits to students,” Gallagher said.

Renderings of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center are available on the University of Pittsburgh website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Bradley Company Highlights Hygiene Tips for Global Handwashing Day

    In honor of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, commercial washrooms and emergency safety solutions provider Bradley Company recently released the results of its 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey. The findings indicate simple, practical steps that facilities managers can take to encourage good hygiene on campus.

  • Wenger Names New Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts, Controls

    Wenger Corporation, which provides products and solutions for music and theater education, performing arts and athletic storage, recently announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts and Controls.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.