Pittsburgh Playhouse Opens at Point Park University

The new Pittsburgh Playhouse continues Point Park University’s long tradition of historic preservation and creative reuse, incorporating two historic structures: the University Center originally designed by Frederick J. Osterling for the Colonial Trust Company, and the Stock Exchange Building, originally designed by prominent architect Charles M. Bartberger. Careful to consider the aesthetic of its location, DLR Group|WRL designers created an exterior façade that complements the Playhouse’s historic Pittsburgh, PA, setting architecturally.

Pittsburgh Playhouse

Situated on 1.5 acres at the university’s downtown Pittsburgh campus, the 90,411-square-foot complex is a substantial addition. The project features three new theaters: a 550-seat proscenium/thrust main stage and multi-form 212-seat “transformational thea­ter,” both of which feature variable enclosures that allow each venue to play to its urban neighborhood, and a 102-seat black box venue. It also houses a sound stage, scenery shop, prop shop, paint shop, costume shop, television studio, scenic design and general classrooms, rehearsal halls, acting studios, classrooms, and faculty offices as well as public amenities such as lobbies, concessions, ticket/business office, and performer support. Other labs and shops and studios are exposed to the internal circulation system and to the street itself, communicating the vitality of making, fabrication, experimentation, and creativity.

Featured

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.