Pitt is moving forward with plans to convert an existing parking lot into a new first-year residence hall on the corner of Fifth and Ruskin avenues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The project is part of Pitt\u2019s efforts to increase on-campus housing, as proposed in the University\u2019s Campus Master Plan.<\/a> Based on the University\u2019s targeted timeline, construction would begin this upcoming summer \u2014 following approval by the Board of Trustees<\/a> in May \u2014 and conclude during the summer of 2028.\u00a0<\/p>\n The University recently conducted interviews with design-build companies. Three final teams will pitch themselves to student and faculty representatives on Feb. 10, according to University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA stakeholder committee that includes University leadership and student government representation will review the finalists based on design, schedule and costs and recommend a finalist to an executive committee for approval,\u201d Stonesifer said.<\/p>\n According to Stonesifer, the building is expected to house approximately 400 students. He said the University plans to include a dining facility and individual showers and powder rooms and is considering adding Honors College amenities<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marley Pinsky, Student Government Board president and a junior politics and philosophy major, said she was part of the interview panel alongside staff members from Residence Life<\/a>, the Office of Planning, Design and Construction<\/a> and the Frederick Honors College<\/a>. According to Pinsky, the companies focused on the building\u2019s architectural design as part of a \u201chistoric corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s right by the music building \u2014 a historic building \u2014 and it\u2019s right by the Cathedral, and then there\u2019s the Heinz Chapel right there, so there\u2019s a lot of historic architecture,\u201d Pinsky said. \u201cThey were trying to navigate, \u2018How do we make it blend in versus stand out?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Pinsky said she likes the idea of having a \u201csignature Pitt building\u201d on the edge of campus.<\/p>\n \u201cThe location of it is pretty cool,\u201d Pinsky said. \u201cIt\u2019s sort of a welcoming gateway to campus.\u201d<\/p>\n Jenna Woelke, a first-year media and professional communications major, said she appreciates the University\u2019s efforts to create more student housing.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they are doing all that they can with this space, especially in the city,\u201d Woelke said. \u201cHearing that they do have plans is honestly pretty impressive, being in the city, because you really don\u2019t have anywhere to expand.\u201d<\/p>\n After enrolling its largest class yet<\/a> for the fall 2025 semester, Pitt leased the Hampton Inn and Pennsylvania Apartments<\/a> and converted them into first-year dormitories to accommodate its increased student population. According to Stonesifer, the University plans to continue leasing these accommodations as first-year housing for the 2026-27 academic year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe University is committed to meeting the housing needs of incoming students as it continues to grow its first-year class in alignment with the Plan for Pitt,\u201d Stonesifer said. \u201cPitt will continue to assess additional leasing opportunities as needed to accommodate incoming classes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Plan for Pitt<\/a> outlines multiple initiatives to \u201cmove Pitt forward,\u201d including Campus Master Plan goals to increase on-campus residency to 60% and undergraduate enrollment to 22,000<\/a> for 2028.<\/p>\n Klaudia Ujda, an undeclared first-year resident of the Hampton Inn, said the distance to central campus is the hardest part of living in the hotel.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDistance is a big thing,\u201d Ujda said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of annoying when everybody lives at Towers and you\u2019re like, \u2018Come hang out,\u2019 but they don\u2019t want to walk the distance.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite not being near other first-year dorms, Ujda said there is still space for students to socialize.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like there\u2019s a good community there,\u201d Ujda said. \u201cThere\u2019s the lobby \u2014 everyone hangs out there.\u201d<\/p>\n