University of Pittsburgh Announces 12-Year Facilities Plan To Support Programmatic Direction

PITTSBURGH-The University of Pittsburgh will commit more than $1 billion in modernization, construction, renovation, and infrastructure upgrades to meet the University's teaching, research, and programmatic needs through the year 2018, under a 12-year Pitt facilities plan released today.

The plan follows up on Pitt's last long-range facilities plan, which covered the years 1998 through 2006. The new plan provides a "roadmap" for ensuring that Pitt facilities can meet programmatic objectives over the next 12 years and as such, has built-in contingencies to review and, if necessary, adjust the plan's direction. The plan, which is divided into four-year phases, will be reviewed prior to the beginning of each phase to allow for programmatic changes or to take advantage of previously unforeseen opportunities.

"It is important for all to realize that this plan, along with its predecessor, is a key element in ensuring that Pitt's academic programs will be competitive with the very best in the coming years," said Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor James V. Maher, who, with Executive Vice Chancellor Jerome Cochran, cochaired the Facilities Planning Committee that developed the plan.

Robert Pack, vice provost for academic planning and resources management, cautioned that the monetary figures in the report should not be viewed as final, but rather as baseline figures to keep facilities up-to-date. Inflation, changes in building codes, and technological advances will impact the final costs of the plan, he said.

"The actual cost will depend on the development of comprehensive programs for each building as well as changing conditions and needs at the time each project is undertaken," said Pack. "And because modernization, renewals, and upgrades cost roughly half of what new construction does, the vast majority of the planned expenditures will go to upgrading existing facilities rather than new construction."

As the timetable for modernizing individual buildings approaches, Pitt's Department of Facilities Management will coordinate with each building's occupants to develop a detailed needs assessment before final costs are calculated. Also to be determined at that time will be construction timetables that will minimize inconvenience to classes, research, and programs.

"A good example of keeping the plan flexible is the Biomedical Science Tower," said Pack. "The BST was not in the University's previous long-range facilities plan, but as the nation began to place a greater emphasis on biotechnology, the University was able to capitalize on the fact that one of its strengths was being identified as a national priority for research funding."

The Facilities Planning Committee that developed the plan was composed of representatives of the administration and faculty. Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg charged the committee to build on the accomplishments of the University's previous facilities plan; assess the condition, adequacy, and appropriateness of the University's facilities; develop priorities for renovation and new construction that are aligned with academic goals and institutional resources; prepare a comprehensive plan that ensures the University's continuing competitiveness in instruction, research, and student life; and propose a realistic funding plan that recognizes continuing fiscal constraints.

The committee, in reviewing the success of the previous plan, adopted a set of principles and priorities to guide its process. These principles and priorities include:

o Modernize current facilities as a cost-effective way to meet future academic program needs rather than build more expensive new facilities (For example, Clapp/Langley/Crawford and Parran/Crabtree halls would cost approximately $486 per gross-square-foot to construct but instead are expected to cost $211 and $132, respectively, to renovate.);

o Invest on a continuing basis in routine maintenance of existing facilities to ensure that they meet the needs of the programs they house;

o Develop significant additional research laboratory facilities to support projected growth and to ensure the University's continuing competitiveness for external funding;

o Invest regularly in improving and modernizing instructional facilities to provide an effective teaching environment;

o Increase the efficiency of space utilization, particularly for classrooms and offices;

o Develop the campus' utility and information technology infrastructure to support future program needs;

o Provide appropriate student life space to assist in meeting enrollment and program goals; and

o Improve athletic facilities to ensure the competitiveness of the University programs.

The committee began its work by conducting a space inventory and an assessment of the current condition of all facilities. It worked with an outside architectural firm to assess the condition of each building's utility infrastructure, in terms of its ability to meet the University's needs in the coming decade.

The committee also surveyed academic units to determine each unit's research, teaching, and technological needs for the coming decade and the adequacy of the current facilities to meet those needs. In addition, the committee examined the University's athletics and recreational needs, as well as the needs for administration, student housing, and dining facilities.

Among the committee's findings and recommendations were the following:

o A number of older buildings on the Pittsburgh campus require significant renovations to support current as well as future programs;

o The major science buildings on the Pittsburgh campus must be substantially modernized to support existing and future programs;

o Existing research laboratory space needs to be modernized and expanded to support anticipated program growth;

o All University buildings require regular investment for routine maintenance to ensure the continuing effectiveness of the programs they house;

o Campus utility and information technology infrastructure must be significantly expanded and upgraded to meet future needs;

o Student-life facilities-residence halls and dining and recreational facilities-require investment to support the achievement of academic and enrollment goals;

o Intercollegiate athletics facilities on the Pittsburgh campus are inadequate in several sports, particularly for soccer, track, baseball, and softball, and must be developed, preferably at on-campus locations;

o Classroom improvement represents a continuing expense to keep pace with changing technology and instructional approaches; and

o The lack of a conference facility inhibits the ability of the Pittsburgh campus to host appropriate academic meetings. The committee suggested the newly acquired University Club as a possible solution to this problem. A separate committee is currently reviewing possible uses for the University Club.

The majority of the construction projects will be paid for by the University's Educational and General budget (including loans), as well as from gifts and grants. The committee worked closely with Pitt's Department of Finance to ensure that the University's current good credit rating would be maintained throughout the course of the plan.

The full plan is available at www.pitt.edu/news/070514.html.

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5/14/07/tmw

University of Pittsburgh Facilities Plan

2007-2018 Major Project Summary

All costs are estimates and factored for inflation. Cost figures are preliminary; final costs will be determined as project dates approach.

Pittsburgh Campus

Project Estimated Total

Allen/Thaw Complex $58,618,000

Benedum 52,358,000

Parran/Crabtree 43,683,000

Salk/Dental Annex 40,173,000

Clapp/Langley/Crawford 72,512,000

Chevron 30,951,000

Victoria 11,571,000

RIDC Computer Center 5,952,000

Cathedral of Learning 33,712,000

Hillman Library 52,167,000

Music Addition 3,406,000

Frick Fine Arts Addition 3,406,000

Salk Addition 45,104,000

Detre/Western Psych Facilities 60,000,000

Falk Library 10,000,000

Scaife 42,000,000

Biomedical Science Towers 1/2/3 15,000,000

All Other Academic Facilities 66,562,000

Programmatic Renovations 36,000,000

Classroom Renovations 18,000,000

Utility Infrastructure 32,695,000

IT Infrastructure 20,735,000

Soccer Complex 6,359,000

Track Complex/Intramural Field 4,580,000

Fitzgerald/Trees/Cost Center Renovations 6,893,000

Softball Field 2,156,000

Marching Band Facility 6,550,000

Baseball Complex 3,233,000

Trees Pool Diving Well 4,520,000

Falk School Renovations/Addition 13,634,000

University Club Renovations 4,532,000

Residence/Dining Renovations 54,054,000

Residence/Dining Construction 43,074,000

Regional Campuses

Classroom Renovation 2,400,000

Residence Hall IT infrastructure 1,606,000

Bradford Residence Hall Construction 7,428,000

Bradford Chapel Construction 4,424,000

Other Bradford Projects 2,438,000

Greensburg Residence Hall Construction 5,143,000

Greensburg McKenna Addition 4,000,000

Greensburg Campana Assembly 1,143,000

Greensburg Recreation Facility 10,481,000

Other Greensburg Projects 2,372,000

Johnstown Residence Hall Construction 5,714,000

Johnstown Recreation Facility 10,285,000

Other Johnstown Projects 16,859,000

Titusville 3,036,000