Greensburg, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will celebrate the beginning of construction for its new life sciences building with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Aug. 20, at 2:30 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the parking area between Mary Lou Campana Chapel and Lecture Center and Smith Hall on the Hempfield Township campus. A live stream of the ceremony will be shared at https://bit.ly/LSB-Live-Stream.
Pitt-Greensburg President Robert G. Gregerson, PhD, will welcome guests to the event. Remarks will follow from Pitt-Greensburg Advisory Board representative Paul Nickoloff, and University of Pittsburgh Provost Ann Cudd, PhD.
Following the remarks, representatives of Pitt-Greensburg’s constituencies, will gather to help break ground for the new building:
- Austyn Carson, president, Student Government Association, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- Ann E. Cudd, PhD, provost, University of Pittsburgh
- Colleen Edlund, project manager, Office of Facilities Management, University of Pittsburgh
- Lou Ferraro, Rycon Construction
- Robert G. Gregerson, PhD, president, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- Allen Hohlfelder, MCF Architects
- Jacqueline Horrall, PhD, vice president for Academic Affairs, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- Paul Nickoloff, representing the Advisory Board, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- Daniel O’Connor, president, Staff Association, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- Melanie Panutsos, MCF Architects
- Stacey Triplette, PhD, president, Faculty Senate, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
“The Life Sciences Building represents a commitment to our students to provide the best possible learning environment for the natural sciences and nursing programs,” said Robert G. Gregerson, PhD, president of Pitt-Greensburg. “The classrooms and laboratories will be state-of-the-art spaces in which our faculty and students will collaborate. The new facility will also make growth in these programs possible. It also represents a commitment to the community. Pitt-Greensburg graduates contribute to the educated workforce for our region, and this contribution will expand as we grow into the new facility. We are so excited to make new learning opportunities available to our students. They deserve the best, and that is what the new Life Sciences Building will provide.”
The building is designed to provide state-of-the-art facilities and the necessary space to expand Pitt-Greensburg’s growing science and nursing programs. In the planning process for several years, construction of the $19.2 million, 32,000-square foot facility was approved by the University of Pittsburgh Trustees in July.
Designed by Pittsburgh-based MacLachlan Cornelius & Filoni, the new building will include a clinical lab, simulation suites, telemedicine space, and a computer lab and office suite for the School of Nursing. Critically needed chemistry and biology labs, as well as support spaces, are included in the building design. In its location adjacent to Smith Hall, the new facility will also provide a new corridor connection to Smith Hall, creating a unified Life Sciences Complex.
After a competitive bid process, Rycon Construction Inc., of Pittsburgh, was selected as the general contractor.
The addition of this new building will aid Pitt-Greensburg in meeting the enrollment and pedagogy requirements of its science and health-related programs. Future improvements to, and expansion of, the existing science facility (originally built in 1976) will also provide a strong basis for recruitment and retention of students, support enrollment goals for new majors, and increase student satisfaction.
In December 2020, Pitt-Greensburg was the recipient of a $500,000 award toward the construction of the building through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). The RACP is a Commonwealth reimbursement grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Budget. It provides financial assistance for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects.
Additionally, the construction of this new facility will aid in the expansion of community partnerships and is projected to add $3 million in economic output to the regional economy, with the construction phase expected to generate an estimated 125 construction jobs.
Additional information about the new Life Sciences Building may be found here:
https://www.greensburg.pitt.edu/about/giving/science-building
Plans call for the new Life Sciences Building to include the following:
Biology & Chemistry facilities:
- General Biology Lab
- Chemistry Lab
- Chemistry Prep & Research Room (two available)
- Advanced Chemistry Lab
- Analytical Chemistry Lab
- Organic Chemistry Lab
Nursing and Health Science Community facilities:
- Clinical Lab
- Microbiology Lab
- Anatomy and Physiology Lab
- Computer Lab
- Simulation Suite
- Nursing Department Office
- Clinical Lab Workroom
- Nursing Director's Office
- Faculty Office (four available)
- Conference Room
- Work Room
- Micro Lab Support Room
- Anatomy and Physiology Support Room
- Tele-Health Room
Additional Spaces:
- Lobby, First Floor
- Lobby, Second Floor
- Large Student Study Space
- Office Suite