More housing, improved athletic facilities, massive academic building part of new Pitt development

PITTSBURGH — Nearly 8 million square feet of development plans are being discussed on Pitt’s campus in Oakland. The plans include more housing, improved athletic facilities and a nearly 1 million square foot academic building.

University officials briefed the city’s planning commission on the decade-long plan.

“I know they’ve had trouble finding enough rooms for freshmen. I think my freshman year, they had kids living in Skyview,” said dental student Brad Deitch.

Part of the university’s plan to tackle housing issues includes a redevelopment of Bouquet Gardens. Other housing projects look to add almost 1000 beds over the next decade. The largest academic improvement would be at Lothrop Hall in the form of a new Integrated Health Sciences Complex.

Tuesday’s meeting featured a broad overview of the university’s plans. A hearing will be scheduled down the road to discuss the specifics of the master plan before the city council ultimately votes on whether to approve the project.